According to the United Nations, approximately
46 million African children, nearly half the school-age population, have
never set foot in a classroom.
In 2014, DWC committed to building a school in the slum community of
George Brook, Sierra Leone. This school will provide critically needed
education to more than 150 children. Watch the video below to see the
project and community firsthand.Due to the devastating Ebola epidemic, DWC has not been able to send any volunteer teams to West Africa. As an alternative, DWC committed to raising and sending money so that local workers could complete the school. This is the old George Brook school and these are the children who will get a better education if they’re in a better building.
Thus the Mt. Kilimanjaro Challenge
The challenge raised more than $90,000 and climbers went to Tanzania to make their trek from Jan. 8 to 15.Facing the thin mountaintop air and -20C temperatures, the team succeeded! All but one climber reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro (health problems caught up to one team member at the highest camp). Congratulations to all 18 who took on the Mt. Kilimanjaro Challenge to raise money for schools for those children in Sierra Leone.
The team consisted of:
- Joshua Molsberry, DWC executive director
- Doug Wittal, owner of DW Builders and also the challenge Summit Sponsor and team leader
- April Johnson, non‐practicing dentist
- Paul Johnson, April’s husband and with Urban Appeal Landscaping
- Christopher Seguin, vice‐president advancement, Thompson Rivers University
- Jennifer McKinney, partner with Fresh Inc.
- Roxanna Ferguson, Travelwise Travel and Cruise Centre TravelPlus
- Jen Crawford, lawyer with Crawford Law Office
- Neville Flanagan, Grayden Flanagan, Chet Flanagan, father, son and grandson. Neville is retired, Grayden owns and operates Subway stores in Kamloops
- Steve Ivanitz, Metal Structure Concepts
- Corey Ivanitz, WCS Western Canadian Steel
- Julie Kimmel, director of development for the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation
- Andy Root, president of Forteva Development
- Gerald Watson, lawyer with Watson and Haines
- Ronald Watson, retired lawyer and father of Gerald Watson
- Raj Rana, an independent mortgage broker
Here’s what they had to say on their journey:
Kilimanjaro Challenge Team Blog Day 9, Jan. 14 Sponsored by Kamloops Daybreak Rotary and Home Hardware Joshua Molsberry, executive director, Developing World Connections
From 16,340 ft (Kosovo camp/Base Camp) to
19,341 ft (Uhuru Peak), to 12,540 ft (millennium camp), culminating in
someone being wheeled off the mountain in a “stretcher,” – essentially a
steel frame with a unicycle wheel and two mono shocks – that was summit
day!
Fortunately, our team member on the stretcher was not seriously injured. Just some knee issues.
It started at 11 p.m. at Kosovo camp. We
were awakened by our support team and started gearing up for the final
ascent of Kilimanjaro. At 16,340 ft, temperatures were well below zero,
with a guarantee that it would get colder as we ascended. Every layer we
brought with us was put on. In one of the articles that was sent out to
the team, it was recommended to purchase a camelback that has an
insulated hose so that it wouldn’t freeze in sub-zero temperatures.
Somehow I missed this, which is mildly pathetic given that most of the
packing lists were distributed by me, so I spent a good half hour
duck-taping wool socks to the hose of my camelback.
April Johnson told me that at high
elevations one is able to see the curvature of the earth. I didn’t
notice, but she mentioned that she and Paul were able to see it. I can
say though, that when I stepped out of the tent at 11 p.m., the stars
were absolutely incredible. The sky is so much fuller with stars than
anything I am used to.
After some tea and crackers, we set out at
around midnight. We marched single file, following an incredibly steep
series of short switchbacks that went on and on and on. For six hours we
trudged up one of the steepest mountains that I have ever climbed. Doug
guesses the pitch was probably around 70 degrees. Climbing in the dark
was disorienting.
We saw only the stars in the sky, the ground in front
of our feet that our headlamps illuminated, and a long trail of lights
leading up the mountain from the dozens of other climbers who were also
ascending. It looked like a stairway leading up into the stars.
The guides encouraged us not to break for
longer than three-minute intervals so that our bodies wouldn’t get tired
and shut down. After six hours, we crested the mountainside and arrived
at Stella Point just as the sky was glowing red with the early morning
sun.
From there we grabbed a quick cup of tea and continued on. The
terrain evened out, becoming less steep. All of us were exhausted and
walking in a daze. I am still amazed at Doug, who lead us every step
with knees that were shot, and Neville, who at 75 years old was able to
put one foot in front of the other the entire way, inspiring us all to
do the same.
The view was absolutely stunning. The
glaciers and crater created a scene that looked like a different world.
Julie was adamant that the terrain on the mountain looked like Mars.
After an hour of trudging from Stella
Point, we made it to the summit – Uhuru Peak, at 19,341 ft. Perhaps it
was the fatigue, or the sense of accomplishment from conquering the
mountain, but all of us were a little emotional. We spent about half an
hour taking pictures and then turned around and started our descent. Our
team trickled into base camp between 9 and 10 a.m. The summit took us
nine hours to get up and down.
We spent some time resting, ate a bit of
food and then started hiking down just after lunch. Doug’s knees were
giving him a lot of trouble by this point. The team went ahead, and a
couple porters and I helped him for a couple miles until we reached an
interesting contraption that the guides call a “stretcher.” It is
essentially a unicycle strapped to a bed frame. I tried to convince Doug
that if we just pushed him, the speed would keep his ride balanced and
he would get down in no time. Doug opted out of this option.
We strapped
him down, and for the next two hours he closed his eyes and hoped not
to roll off a cliff. I tried to scramble ahead of the thing and kick the
small boulders out of the way that were constantly sending him
airborne, as about six of our guides tried to navigate him down the
mountain on an incredibly rocky and uneven trail.
We finally made it down to the camp where
the team was drying out clothes and trying to get warm with some tea.
After a few hours, we were all still feeling a high from our incredible
accomplishment. What a team we had. One out of our 18 didn’t make it,
which was a shame, but definitely in his best interest. All told, our
summit success rate was well above the roughly 70% average. It was truly
a team effort. We encouraged each other, shared gear, gave advice, made
fun of each other and laughed till it hurt. What an adventure!
And I stink like a wet dog in need of a bath! If it weren’t so cold I’m sure my tentmate, Andy Root, would be sleeping outside.
Kilimanjaro Challenge Team Blog Day 8, Jan. 13 Sponsored by R and D Construction Christopher Seguin, vice-president Advancement, Thompson Rivers University
Day six was the final day prior to summit.
We moved from Karanga at 14,200 to Kosovo camp at 16,000. Every step we
took was the highest any of us had been outside of an airplane, every
step brought us closer to the summit. We wandered through a barren
rockscape, Mars-like in colour. So high not even moss adorned the rocks.
Morale is high, we are all still here,
three of us are having trouble breathing having developed a hacking
cough, and all of us are feeling the altitude. The Diamox is holding the
nausea and migraines at bay, but all of us are struggling. Now the slow
pace we have been programmed to follow is a necessity. The landscapes
are surreal, huge in scope, with valleys and chasms kilometres wide, the
mountain now looms beside us, a constant reminder of what is to come.
Summit, summit, summit – the word is on all our lips and anticipation is
tinged with a nervous fear.
Something magical happens on this journey,
in the absence of jungle of flowers and other hikers. The group uses
the hours to chat with their shallow breath. We learn about each other,
we talk about kids, work, dreams and other travel. Eighteen people who
knew each other as colleagues and peers become friends, between halting
steps relationships are born. The struggle we face unites us and we find
so much in common. Developing World Connections attracts people who
invest their time and money to make the world a better place, and it is
incredibly exciting to discover new friends who share your views and
ambitions.
By the end of the day, the guides decide
we will pass the initial camp site and proceed to Kosovo, looming
hundreds of metres above, atop an imposing rock wall. The guides believe
we are ready, we are conditioned enough to make the leap and in doing
so save ourselves an additional climb at midnight. After struggling up
that wall, we were all exhausted, wheezing, struggling to breathe. The
mists rolled in and covered us in a cold chill. In that mist a song
arose. It was haunting, and beautiful. The guides and porters were
singing. As we came upon the camp they met us with a slow deep vocal
rhythm. The words were lost on us, but as we arrived, we realized we
were alone, the camp below hosted hundreds of campers, but we stood
solitary on our mountain peak.
“We are here, please unpack, rest, eat and
then get as much sleep as you can, at midnight we begin the final
climb,” our guide says. “Because we made this camp our chances of
summiting are very high, you all have done very well.” His words enforce
a growing resolve in us. Summit, summit, summit.
I like to think it is more than the Diamox
that protects us from the altitude, I like to think that we are made of
tougher stuff. That each of us, driven, ambitious, filled with dreams
of the impossible, is ready for what midnight will bring, that together
facing this mountain united by purpose and friendship we will finally –
summit.
Kilimanjaro Challenge Team Blog Day 7, Jan. 12 Sponsored by Rotary Club of Kamloops Gerald Watson, lawyer with Watson and Haines (also with his dad, Ron Watson)
Day five was not about extreme elevation
or elevation change but taxing the team with a series of steep up and
down sections as we progressed to the next camp (Karanga 13,100 ft. to
Barranco).
We had been told that this would be the
easiest day of the trip and the team was grateful for it. Yesterday was
considerably colder and wetter than anyone on the team anticipated. Even
the best prepared had been drenched and most had at least one part that
was cold, if not their entire body.
My father (Ron) and I won the porter
lottery. Our duffel bags and sleeping mats made it into our tents
without any excess moisture. Several others had not been so lucky and
got off the trail cold and wet to find their mats and bags drenched.
Everything on them was drenched, everything they had reserved for the
next day was drenched and there was no way to dry them in the ongoing
rain.
We started the hike at 8:36. Most of the
team was dressed/fed and ready to go by 8, but our camp was much more
crowded than those we had stayed at previously. I think the right
decision was made and most of the other teams were allowed to go ahead
of us. The day started with a scramble up the Barranco Wall, which was
almost a vertical face with a trail proceeding across it at a grade
between 25 and 30%. The wall was wet and there were places where two to
three guides were required to give team members a hand as there simple
weren’t enough handholds in the rock to climb without help.
My GPS watch with which I had been
tracking our progress to date had a bit of seizure and was giving
inaccurate readings. It couldn’t read enough satellites because of the
interference of the rock faces. I won’t know for sure until I get access
to a computer and wifi to review what it recorded, but my best guess is
that it took us 80 minutes to climb 2,300+ ft and move laterally 600
meters. Probably the most humbling part of the climb was the constant
stream of porters passing us with considerably bigger packs (baskets
balanced on their head with 40-kg plus or minus in duffel bags and
wearing terrible shoes) and making the same climb in 20 to 25 minutes.
We had a clear view of the Kibo crater glaciers as well as the Mawenzi peak for the bulk of the day (17,000 ft).
Today was by far my favourite for terrain
and vegetation. We looked up jagged cliffs that were clearly volcanic
and walked over a mix of metamorphic and ignaceous rock and rich
volcanic soil. It was clearly a wet environment, but the larger plants
vaguely looked like modified desert plants. One resembled a furry
coconut tree that branched from a single trunk into four larger trunks,
each capped by what looked like the top of a palm tree set on a table.
Another was a frilly bright-green version of sage brush.
As we approached Karanga Camp, at about
hour five of the hike, we were pretty happy. As we got even closer, we
became a bit dismayed as we realized there was a deep, narrow ravine we
would have to cross. What look liked a 20-minute walk took us an hour
and fifteen minutes as we descended and then climbed a final 425 feet.
Team spirit is high and all members are looking in good shape for tomorrow.
Kilimanjaro Challenge Team Blog Day 6, Jan. 11 Sponsored by Cadillac Homes Chet Flanagan (with Grayden and Neville Flanagan, his dad and grandfather)
It’s Chet Flanagan here with help from my
grandfather, Neville Flanagan, to tell you about our day five. Our day
started like the previous days en route to Kili’s infamous dark and cold
peak.
After a restless night, I was awakened by
the laughs and noises of the camp accompanied by the amazing view of
Kili. Finally, its face poked out from the clouds, leaving us some time
to snap pictures and enjoy our morning coffee with a view. This morning
was cold and foreshadowed the upcoming days.
After breakfast, our guides and porters,
who number 71 on this trip, treated us to a song and dance to send us on
our way. The whole team was clapping along and enjoying the fun. I was
thinking of getting our team to treat the guides to a North American
style dance, such as the YMCA. The group thought it was a good idea –
not really.
We had a short hike today, only three
hours, to Shira Camp 2. I overpacked my bag as I was stripping layers
quickly after we left. We took too many stops to “bless the land,” but
otherwise our journey went at a faster pace than previous days. The
terrain was littered with huge boulders that we had to bound over. Some
found it tough on the hips, as the altitude change began to set in with
myself and others.
As we entered our camp, it rained. So
after three hours, we had seen every type of weather except snow (which
we hopefully will leave for Canada). I swear the universe was good to me
as I found a proper bathroom to use and not a porta potty. Before I
could savour this find, the whole group was lining up to use it.
Unfortunately, we are too tight of a group to hold secrets from one
another. It is quite funny after many nights of freezing that we are
getting excited over the little things.
Once we arrived, we climbed to a higher
elevation to help with tomorrow’s long 14-km trek. The group saw bright
orange lichen on some rocks along the short jaunt that reminded everyone
of Jurassic Park and much older times such as the ‘80s. With the height
of the little climb we passed the halfway mark and it sunk in my heart
to think the worst is yet to come. At the camp, we are surrounded by
groups from all over the world which reminds me there is still hope as
it has occurred to me that our group is in much better shape than
others. We have been lucky to be moving at a good SLOW pace and have
great guides.
At the start and at the end of the day our
oxygen levels and heart rates are checked. My readings have been pretty
good, then I see what my grandfather gets and I am put to shame. We had
a nice warm dinner to battle the cold air and wind, and had another
early night as we start our walks at 8 a.m. As night approaches, I
realize I miss many things such as my family and friends. But I think
what I miss most is my own bed and not having to listen to my father
snore all night. It’s been a fabulous experience, a true
once-in-a-lifetime trip, as I am in the company of so many great people
and my family. I can’t wait to see what the next days have to offer and
take in the view at the peak of Kili.
Lala Salama (goodnight in Swahili)
From Chet, Grayden, and Neville Flanagan
From Chet, Grayden, and Neville Flanagan
Kilimanjaro Challenge Team Blog Day 5, Jan. 10 Sponsored by Rivershore Ram Jenifer Crawford, lawyer with Crawford Law Office
I have to admit – day 4 almost did me in. I
considered a lot of challenges that I would face on this hike, but
getting sick was not one of them.
The day started like all the others. Doug
yelled out “Good Morning Vietnam” about 30 minutes before our scheduled
wake up time of 6:30. That led to the usual round of jokes and jabs. As
we got moving, our excellent porters organized coffee and washing
stations and usual sounds of camp began. There were heavy grey clouds
that lifted for a short time to give us a peak at Kilimanjaro. She
looked ominous and cold!
We knew we had a big day ahead of us:
hiking to the Lava Tower and then back down to Baranco camp at 13,250
feet. We were told to expect to be on the trail for about 8 to 9 hours.
We were all careful to ensure we had gear and snacks in our day packs.
We were told to expect challenging weather. Box lunches were handed out
because usually it was too windy at the Lava Tower to set up a lunch
tent.
I was feeling horrible and wishing I could
call in sick to work rather than being on the biggest climb of my life.
I tried to lessen my load by asking Steve to carry my lunch, and Corey
and Gerald to each take a water bottle. I also loaded up on cold
medication and hoped that Kili was kind to us in the weather department.
Camp was 12,875 feet. Yesterday, we had
hiked to 4,000 meters (about 13,200 feet) as an “afternoon stroll,” so
we knew what to expect. We started about 8:30 a.m., with our guide
Lazaro in the lead. “Pole pole” (slowly slowly) was said repeatedly. We
had a long way to go!
Unusual for us, the group started out
quiet. But about a half hour in the jokes and laughter began. The rocky
landscape with long strands of orange moss made me think of Fraggle
Rock. Others felt it was like moonscape or perhaps Boulder Mountain from
Lord of the Rings. Gradually, rolling moss appeared, making me think of
images I have seen of Scotland.
Lazaro sang for us. A song we are all
trying to learn, so I walked along beside him and took down the words
(four more days to learn them): “Jambo…Jambo bwana…Habari gani…Nzuri
Sana…Wageni…Mwa karibishwa…Kilimanjaro…Hakuna Matata…Tembea pole
pole…Hakuna Matata…Utafika uhuru…Hakuna Matata.” It is really beautiful
and lively when sung by our Swahili crew of guides, porters, waiters,
kitchen staff (not sure if anyone has mentioned that we have some 65
people supporting our team in this climb).
Pole pole, we walked up the mountain. Just
after 10 a.m., we reached 14,000 feet. That was exciting. Most of our
group had never been that high. Pole pole. Sometimes trail; sometimes
stepping over large rocks and boulders. I would frequently veer off to
the side to take pictures. Stay in line I was told. It is too much
energy to catch up.
Shortly after, at 14,260 feet, we came
across a memorial to Ian McKeever (1970 to 2013), whose stone read "Who
inspired so many to reach their own goals and achieve their own summits;
Attitude before Altitude." It was a sobering reminder that not everyone
finishes this hike.
Pole pole, we went on. Across open plains
and narrow chasms; past massive walls of cooled lava flows shaped like
the hoodoos from home.
At 11:30 it started to mist. We stopped
and put on rain gear. I made a huge error in judgment and only put on my
rain jacket. The mist was so light and it was warm. But the mist turned
to rain and it got colder and colder. Soon my pants were wet and my
body chilled. I stopped and put on more layers and my rain pants but I
never got warm again that day. Truly!
By noon the conversation had most stopped.
We were going higher and higher. I could feel a mild headache and
wondered if it was my cold or the altitude. When we stopped for breaks,
team members mentioned headaches and sore shoulders. Our guides
reassured us and took on packs and water bottles if necessary to lighten
our loads.
We continued climbing. Pole pole. I was so
tired; I just wanted to sleep. Our lead guide Thomas reassured me that
was normal with altitude.
I began to feel that I could not do this.
Climbing Kilimanjaro was a mistake. So I dug deep and found just a
little more in me than there was a moment before, and continued on. Pole
pole. And then, we were there. The lava towers loomed above me; we were
at 15,259 feet. It was five hours since we left camp. And here we were.
Our summit for the day. Cold wet and hungry.
One of the guides brought me hot, sweet
tea. It was soooo good! I found a spot under a low overhang and opened
my lunch box. Despite my hunger it was hard to eat. I reminded myself we
were only halfway to camp and settled to it.
As lunch wrapped up, we were cheered by
the thought that we would start heading down. Until we saw the trail.
Only one word describes it: waterfall. We were going to hike down a
waterfall. In the rain! And we did. And then we crossed a river and then
we climbed another hill. And then we started a long, long descent. I
admit it, I was a little miserable. But not so miserable that I could
not appreciate the beauty of this wonderful mountain. A bunch of yellow
flowers here; an expansive vista there; a flowering cactus; a waterfall.
Occasionally the clouds would lift enough to give us a peek at another
face of Kilimanjaro.
As we descended, we went by another cairn.
This one we were told was a German man who was hit by lightning. A
reminder to not take Kilimanjaro casually.
As we descended, it got warmer. Eventually
the rain slowed and stopped. But I was tired and kept my mind busy
counting heart-shaped rocks on the trail. I left them all behind in case
another weary traveller need the same inspiration to keep heart on the
trail.
At last the call: 10 minutes to camp. I
was looking forward to a quick stretch and a nap before dinner. We
arrived at about 4:30 and checked in. But no nap for me. My bed mat was
wet; my bag was wet; my sleeping bag was wet. I had a little cry. But
again, our support crew stepped up and ensured that I slept in a dry bed
that night!
At dinner as we talked about our day, I
learned that everyone had found it as tough as I had – in their own way.
Without doubt it was the toughest day of hiking anyone of us has had.
Most felt some level of altitude sickness, mainly with headaches and
tiredness. But we were all smiling and congratulating each other on a
job well done.
As I finally crawled in to bed, my last
thought was today kicked my butt. But I did it. And if I can do that,
then I can do this mountain. So a hard day has given me heart to make it
to the top!
Well, we all made it through night number
one on Kili, despite some noises in the night from some unidentified
African creatures and from some Canadian creatures (those creatures were
identified!).
Our day started with our choice of hot
coffee or tea served in our tent, followed by a delicious breakfast of
oatmeal, fruit, eggs, sausage and toast. By 8 a.m., we started our 14-km
trek. Trekking began with a fair bit of incline out of Big Tree Camp
and before long we were out of the rainforest and into the moorland, a
land of huge heather, volcanic rock draped in lichen and more expansive
views.
We maintained our “pole pole” pace and I
was continually amazed to see the porters fly past us with 20 kgs of
gear perched on top of their heads. I did see the odd bead of sweat, but
they certainly made it look like a walk in the park. Although we had a
few flat stretches and some downhill, the overall trend was up, up and
more up, with a lot of scrambling up and over boulders.
We were treated to a hot lunch somewhere
between 9,500 and 10,000 ft and it looked like we were going to get
really wet as we left our lunch site, but Kili smiled on us and before
long we were all stripping off our raingear. We continued up some more
to arrive at Shira 1 Camp at 12,200ft, approximately six and a half
hours after leaving Big Tree Camp. Despite the elevation, everyone seems
to be feeling good and despite the long day, everyone is in great
spirits.
Shira 1 Camp is situated on the edge of
the Shira plateau and simply because of its location is exposed to the
elements, so we’ve been told to expect a colder night and morning. Right
now, however, the sun is out and we even caught a glimpse of the
glaciers surrounding the summit on Kili between the clouds.
Corey jokingly said we should just head
for the summit tomorrow because “it’s right there” and it sure seems
like it is and I think that’s one of the challenges of this mountain. It
deceives you into thinking that you’re almost there when really we’re
just getting started.
Kilimanjaro has some challenges in store
for us yet but we’ll tell Christopher that “we’re almost there” because
he really likes that kind of encouragement. The highlights of today
would have to be the camaraderie and levity among team members. The
jokes back and forth and the funny comments at every turn up the
mountain had me laughing all the way to Shira. I don’t think our head
guide Tom has encountered a group like us before and I catch him
chuckling and laughing along with us. I see bonds and friendships
developing and our always humorous and always inspiring leader, Doug
Wittal, knows how to foster this spirit. That is what will get us all to
the summit.
Quote of the day would have to be Joshua’s
comment to Doug: “You’re doing great buddy…but that means you’ve cost
me more on Day 2!”
I can’t say there have been any lowlights
today that I’m aware of. The food has been great, the views magnificent,
the weather has been in our favour and everyone is feeling good.
Literally as I’m writing this the clouds surrounding the Kili summit
have cleared and we have all now had a glimpse of the roof of Africa.
What more could we ask for?
Kilimanjaro Challenge Team Blog Day 3, Jan. 8 – Hitting the trail Sponsored by Pacific Homes Roxanna Ferguson with Travelwise Travel and Cruise Centre TravelPlus
Day one of the climb!
Frantic packing, unpacking, repacking,
breakfast, more packing, weighing packs. And we’re off! More “Maasi
massage!” A two-plus-hour drive through villages, pine forests and
potato farms and we arrive at the Kilimanjaro park entrance. There are
18 of us. Get this: to accomplish the feat of climbing to over 19,000
feet, we have a team of 71 (yes, 71!) guides, porters and cooks
accompanying us on this climb.
Unbelievable. Each porter can carry no
more than 20 kg of goods. So our packs, tents, chairs, water, portable
toilets, food and equipment are all carried by these young men, 20 kilos
at a time. After everything is strictly weighed by the authorities, we
are on our way to the Lemosho gate to start our six-km trek. We walked
through a beautiful rain forest with beautiful greenery, a bit of mud
and lot of stinging plant life.
The trail is well groomed. It reminds me
of the Grouse Grind a little. So lush. We arrive at our first base camp,
the Big Tree Camp. Tents everywhere (we are not alone). The porters
quickly set up camp, have warm water to “washy washy” our filthy bodies
and prepare tea, cookies and popcorn. A blue monkey joined for snacks (a
huge highlight for many). And day one is done.
Happy Ukrainian Christmas! This morning we
woke up to a picture-perfect blue sky day. Our Serena Resort is
beautiful, the grounds are spectacular, and we’re ready for our first
adventure.
After breakfast, we drove into Arusha
town. After a stop at the market and a tourist shopping centre, we
arrived at Cradle of Love Orphanage. We received a warm welcome from
Ken, the director of the orphanage. Cradle of Love caters solely to
infants under three years old.
Currently there are 27 children living
there. Most of the children’s mothers died during child birth. Some of
the children are HIV positive, others simply abandoned. COL is funded
only by donations, mostly from North America and Australia. We had time
to hold the infants, and play with toddlers before they went for lunch.
The orphanage graciously accepted our 750 lbs of dried fruit and soup.
It was great to feel like we contributed even just a little bit to such a
loving organization.
We got our “Maasi massage” (that’s the
best way to describe the washboard roads) on the way back to Serena for a
quick debrief. We learned our word of the day, which is also going to
be our mantra on the climb: “pole pole” (slowly ~ slowly). Every guide
says if we want to make it to the top, drink three litres of water a day
minimum and go very slowly. We had a quick equipment inspection before
DWC put on a wonderful garden party for our group. Josh thanked us for
being part of such an amazing, record-topping fundraiser, Doug Wittal
(DW Builders) tried to bring tears to our eyes with his pep talk and
drummers and dancers entertained us. A great way to end the day.
Kilimanjaro Challenge Team Blog
Day 1, Jan. 6 – Arriving in Tanzania
Sponsored by BDO
Joshua Molsberry, Developing World Connections executive director
My childhood best friend spent the first
10 years of his life in Kenya. We were pretty much joined at the hip as
kids, so I relived with him all the stories his parents told us about
living in Africa. In fact, I felt so connected with Africa that by the
time I moved there in my early twenties, a part of me felt like I was
moving back home. Perhaps it was that early exposure, or the time I have
spent living and working on the African continent since then, but there
are few places on earth I have found that get into my skin like this
one – the people, the food, the smells, the dirt.
Enough rambling. On to the Kili challenge.
What the heck am I doing bringing 18 people to Tanzania to hike the
tallest free-standing mountain in the world? What if half the team dies?
What if they don’t summit? What if they don’t get along and the team
deteriorates into factions like an episode of Survivor? This was a crazy
idea!
I think if anything goes wrong, I’ll just
blame it on Doug Wittal, our official team leader and presenting
sponsor. “You don’t like the food? Sorry, Doug chose the menu. You’re
too tired to continue the climb? Ah sorry, Doug should have better
prepared you for the physical challenge.”
Yeah, that’s what I’ll do – blame Doug.
He’ll probably just tell me to “relax and stop being so paranoid,” like
he always does. He’s so annoying!
When we came up with this idea well over a
year ago, I had no idea if it would work. I didn’t know if people would
be willing to pay an exorbitant amount of money to climb this mountain
and make a charitable contribution to our cause, or if businesses would
want to get behind the event as corporate sponsors. As each milestone
approached that required us to devote more staff time or spend more
money on organizing the climb, I dithered.
Boy, was I wrong. From a fundraising
perspective, this has been an incredible success. We have raised more
than $90,000, recruited some high-profile community leaders to the team
and given DWC and its work great exposure. We couldn’t be happier with
all of that. A big thanks to all of our team members and sponsors.
The rest of the team doesn’t arrive until
later tonight, so I have some time to get organized. Tomorrow morning we
head to a market, then to an orphanage to deliver some donated food and
spend time with the kids. It’s going to be an awesome day.
