This is a guest post from Laura Barnes.

I am using my about.me page for 3 very specific reasons. In the next twelve months I want to focus all my energy and enthusiasm towards achieving the following…

1. Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro
2. Raise awareness of Congenital Heart Defects
3. Raise money for the Alder Hey IMAGINE APPEAL.

Here’s why….

You see, I was born with a congenital heart defect. I was born with a hole in my heart. It’s not something I talk about a lot, as I never wanted anyone to feel sorry for me. When I was 10 years old I finally had open-heart surgery at the Royal Liverpool Children’s Hospital, in England, near where the Beatles played at the Cavern Club in the 60’s.

I now have a whole and happy heart. YAY!

I feel like I am the girl that lived because so many children are not so lucky. Did you know that more than twice as many children in the U.S. die from heart defects than ALL the childhood cancers combined? It is a similar story across the world.

I decided it was time to give back.

Today, the Royal Liverpool Children’s Hospital operates under the Alder Hey Children’s Trust Foundation. The IMAGINE Appeal is the name of Alder Hey’s fundraising charity. It is generously supported by Yoko Ono Lennon and funds pioneering research, education and kind, loving support for seriously poorly children and their families. It is a brilliant, brilliant charity with so much heart.

I am a dreamer and I hope I am not the only one.

In June 2012, I am climbing (and yes it is a climb!) Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa and I am doing it to raise money for the IMAGINE APPEAL and raise public awareness of Congenital Heart Defects.

I really need your help to climb this mountain!