Update and Being Back Home

Sorry that we weren't able to update you all for quite some time!  I lost my phone during a bit of a scare we had and that kept us from updating everyone.  so, here is a brief one:

Two groups left on Saturday night to summit: Lori, Pilar and Amber left at 11pm. Tanya, Steph H., Steph W, Michelle, Shelly, Betsy, Rachel, and Colleen left at midnight.  The goal was for us all to meet at the summit. 

What happened to the others, you ask?  Donna had decided to quit the climb after the first day of climbing, so she was hanging out in Moshi.  Maureen twisted her ankle on day three, so she was sent down the mountain to rest, as well.  Claudine had difficulty with altitude sickness and was turned back on day four and was not allowed to continue to the summit.  So, the rest of the group was divided and our goal was to meet at the top for photos and to celebrate.

The going was really difficult, as it was cold and dark but we really wanted to reach the summit, so we plowed on and on, placing one step in front of the other, focused on the tast ahead while also trying to combat nausea along the way.  Not everyone felt sick, but some of us did feel the effects of the altitude.  In fact, Steph W. (the Mountain Goat) had to turn around back once she reached Stella Point because she didn't have enough oxygen in her system.  Tanya and Shelly threw up along the way up but managed to get back in line to continue the climb.  Finally, after a looooong hike, Lori, Pilar and Steph W. made it to Stella Point.  Steph. H, Tanya, Shelly, Betsy, Rachel, Colleen, and Michelle summited at Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa.

On our way down the mountain, we had to come down on scree, which is NASTY on the knees. We used our poles a lot and tried our best not to fall.  Sadly, Betsy did fall and managed to knock her shoulder out of its socket.  Michelle and Tanya spent a long 2 hours waiting with Betsy on the trail for help to come.  They tried unsuccessfully to put her shoulder back in the socket, which was incredibly painful for Betsy.  At last, a trauma surgeon came by and he also tried to relocate the shoulder, to no avail.  To make a long story short, Betsy was moved down the mountain by a bunch of porters who transported her on a guerney by foot all the way to the bottom.  Her shoulder was fixed at a hospital in Moshi and we all reunited on Monday afternoon. 

The rest of the team arrived at Mbahe Farm in time to shower and pack before eating a celebratory meal with the porters and guides who made our trip possible.  We had a blast together!  Our team had the opportunity to thank the porters and guides for an amazing experience and we took full advantage of it.  We ate together and shared songs and laughter.  Together, we celebrated into the night.

Yesterday, we all left Tanzania in order ot come back home.  We made it safely and now, sitting in the living room writing this, I am grateful to each of the amazing women who joined me on this adventure.  I am proud to call them friends and look forward to other adventures with them in the future as we help children affected by AIDS.

Team on the Way to Africa

There is a team of Canadian and American women heading to Kenya today.  While there, they will visit one of the hospitals we support, as well as an orphanage which houses and cares for 56 little girls orphaned by AIDS.  These women come from all walks of life and from all over Canada and USA.  After a couple of days of visiting our projects and cuddling some seriously gorgeous girls, the team will head out to Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro.

I am incredibly excited about this team because they are women who deeply care and who are going beyond themselves to help.  They didn't let a little issue like fundraising stop them!  They got creative, raising funds in their respective countries. The Canadian portion is raising funds for the Stephen Lewis Foundation and the Americans are raising funds for AFCA.  This is a neat partnership and we wish the ladies a safe journey and wonderful time and trek.

Happy travels!

First Day of Climb

For those of us that didn't sleep last night, a steady rain met with a massive downpour were there for company....as well as chickens starting at 2am.


The rain isn't exactly the best thing for us as we start the first day ascending through the mountain forest. We're having conversations about which boots we should wear today knowing that this pair will be wet the entire trip. We're in good spirits, though, because the more suffering we endure, the more epic the story will be at the end!

Leaving camp we had planned to drive to the trailehead but the mud from the rain isn't letting the trucks in, so we have to hike to them. This simply means walking through the village we toured yesterday. The kids there love us despite not having any candy or pencils to pass them. Ben from our team, who still hasn't received his bags from the airline...hiking in hot chilis, spent half the day chasing the kids around with a single word of "buaaaa" yelled outloud. The kids loved it. Not sure if they were more afraid of him or his hot chilis from the 80,s, though! Now they are running up to us saying "buaaaa" instead of hello which was their greeting yesterday.

Again, the food was great this morning. All of us ae over eating fresh fruit, fresh bread, delicious orange cake, homemade peanut butter, local honey from "killer bees", butter from local cows, eggs from local chickens, bacon from....not sure, but all good. We are full and ready to climb 3000 feet today....and hopefully, get through the cloud layer.

Eric O.

Gear Check!

After a cup of organic Tanzanian coffe and fresh fruit, eggs, and bread for breakfast and a morning of hiking and resting (and John running with Simon - the world record holder for the quickest ascent up Kilimanjaro), the team is now going through gear check.  This is to ensure that they have everything they need, that the items they have are in good condition, and that they are all packed and ready to start their climb tomorrow morning.  Tents are being aired out, as well as sleeping bags and pads.  The crew is excited to get going and are making sure every detail is being looked after.