Samantha and Adrian’s relationship embodies the very spirit of adventure. Together for 6 years, it started with a blind date – set up by Samantha’s beautician who just so happened to be Adrian’s sister. Samantha had touched down from Australia and, whilst hesitant to step out in the sub-zero conditions of a snowy January, braved the elements to make the date. As fate would have it, it was meant to be.
The loss of Samantha’s sister Amanda to an accident sparked action on what would’ve been her 30th birthday in 2017. To honour her memory, Samantha resolve led her to undertake a full year of challenges – all of which she managed to successfully complete. Making her way down a list, Samantha’s feats included running the Cambridge marathon, a firewalk and hosting a charity horse show – significantly raising money for charity along the way.
The literal summit of these challenges was to reach that of Mount Kilimanjaro – a herculean effort contending with deep into the ‘minus’ nightly temperatures and one of the world’s most treacherous inclines.
Joined by Adrian, the couple set out on a trek over the course of 7 days, marking off base camps to make it all the way up to the peak.
“We started our 7 day trek on 26.12.2017 and reached school hut base camp on 30.12.2017. We left base camp at 11.30pm and walked all night in darkness bar the moon in temperatures of -15 to finally reach the summit at 6am to watch a beautiful sunrise on the roof of Africa.” – Samantha via Facebook
There, atop the earth’s highest free-standing mountain, watching the sun rise over Africa, waves of endurance, emotion and sheer determination had carried Samantha and Adrian to dizzying heights.
“We moved across to one side to have a look at the wall of ice and Adrian suddenly got down on one knee! It was a total surprise as you can see from the picture! I of course said yes!” – Samantha via Facebook
Photos were taken, because what better excuse for a great picture could you possibly have than heroic vistas?… That obligatory ‘snap at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro’ reasoning was duly surpassed by the ultimate photo opportunity: Adrian getting down on one knee to ask Samantha the all-important question. What had been a brief detour to look at the mountain’s wall of ice quickly turned into a surprise proposal. Captured candidly on camera, Samantha’s “yes” would mark one of the high points of their life together, at the world’s highest point.
This trip was worthwhile in every sense of the word, sparking the joy you can only ever possibly achieve whilst out on an adventure. Adrian proposed with a suitably striking diamond solitaire engagement ring and the couple plan to exchange their vows on another continent, celebrating their wedding on Cameo Island, Zante in 2020.
Throughout her challenges, Samantha raised a total of over £4000 for The Donor Family Network. This charity promotes organ donation and supports the families of those whose loved ones have passed and donated organs. Samantha was sponsored by the family of one of the people who benefited from Amanda’s organs – Becky.
If you’d like to feature in #ShareMyEngagement, please email any photos and details of the proposal to Chloë (Social Media at Robert Gatward) via [email protected] with the subject heading “#ShareMyEngagement”. We also run a competition across our social media channels (facebook, twitterand instagram) where you could #WIN a £750 wedding ring voucher. Simply share a snap of your engagement ring along with your story to any of our social media channels with the hashtag #ShareMyEngagement and tag ‘Robert Gatward Jewellers’ to be entered.
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