Frequently Asked Questions - as answered by Trish

QUESTIONS - I HAVE BEEN GETTING LOTS!
And the questions just keep rolling in!! So let’s get right to it.

Are you scared?
Please stop asking me this. No, I am not scared, but the more I get asked, the more I start to wonder if I should be.

Are you nuts?
This could be debated. But until the altitude sickness sets in and delirium takes over, I would say that I am sane and perfectly aware of the decision I am making to climb a considerably high mountain.

Why should i pay for your vacation?
Ah, that would be great to have an all expenses paid vacation. But alas it is not the case. 100% of all donations are going straight to the SHLF. The Kili climb costs are coming entirely out of my pockets - flights, equipment, visas, vaccines, you name it. The costs are adding up but it’s so worth it.

Are you just going for the climb?
Now if you’re asking me this question, you must be nuts. I’m going all the way to Africa and I’m going to enjoy it. So what do I have in store since I’ll be all the way over there?
June 23-28: Climb Kilimanjaro!
June 29 - July 3: SAFARI!!
July 4 - 9: Cape Town, South Africa

How long is the climb?
The climb is 6 days total. We will be ascending very slowly for 4 days and descending over 2 days. Check out the itinerary below.

DAY 1 : 23RD JUNE : BEGIN KILIMANJARO CLIMB
Be met by your head guide and drive to the Machame gate (about 45min.). After registration, start climbing along a clear trail through plantation and natural forest, thereafter a narrow forest path follows to the Machame hut (9,900ft). Approx 5-6 hours of walking today.

Day 2 : 24th June : Climbing
After breakfast, continue your ascend through the forest and cross a large gorge to Shira hut (12,600ft). Approx 5-6 hours of walking today.

Day 3 : 25th June : Climbing
After breakfast, we will ascend to Lava tower (15,180ft) with lunch on the way to Baranco, then descend slowly to Baranco campsite (12,850ft) for dinner and overnight. Approx 5-7 hours of walking today.

Day 4 : 26th June : Climbing
After breakfast, we leave Baranco hut for Barafu hut (14,910ft). We will pass through the last water drop at Karanga valley on the way up. Overnight Barafu campsite. Approx 6-7 hours of walking today.

Day 5 : evening of 26th June/early morning of 27th (FULL MOON) : Climbing - Summit Day
Wake up at midnight and after a small snack, start ascending to Uhuru Peak through the Stella point (18,640ft). After reaching the summit, we will head down to Mweka camp. Approx 6-7 hours to Uhuru Peak and then 4-5 hours down to Mweka camp.

Day 6 : 28th June : Return to Moshi
After breakfast, we will head down to Mweka gate and the waiting vehicle will take you back to Moshi. Approx 3-4 hours of walking today.

How are you training?
Training is mental and physical so I’ve got my hands full preparing for this challenge.

Mentally
Well, if people would stop freaking me out, that would be nice. I’m not really concerned about the actual climb as I am about the lack of hygiene. But I’m doing things to make me feel better about camping for 6 days with no running water and therefore no showers or bathrooms - you get the idea. So I bought “No Rinse Shampoo” and “No Rinse Bodywash” and have myself fully convinced that this is just as good as a nice shower after sweating it up a mountain for many hours a day. It’s all good.

Physically
Lots of cross-training to get as fit as I can.
* Aerobic workouts include spinning twice a week and getting on the treadmill.
* Strength training includes lots of different machines to increase my upper body strength, my core, my back and my legs. So just about all of them. You should see the size of my biceps - tearing through my shirts. Incredible.
* HIKING! What better way to get ready then to actually hike? So off I go to the moutains to break in my boots and backpack. I’ve successfully gotten blisters on almost every part of my feet, but the pain builds character.

Trish

Kilimanjaro or bust...the final push!

Today's message is all about recognition and thanks. I want to recognize my friends, family and colleagues who have gone the extra mile to help the foundation and I want to thank everyone who has ever opened up one of my many many fundraising emails and took the time to read it. It means a lot to me.

Immediately after my first Kilimanjaro fundraising email, both my mom, Penny Lovell and my fiance, Chet Dhole had their credit cards out. My friend Kate Collins here in Abu Dhabi is my biggest donor to date. Friend and colleague Nancy Hernandez went around her office collecting funds from colleagues . Taunia Phillips, Fouad Ismael, Natalie Dahdal, Michael Dahdal, Kate Collins and Nancy Hernandez all posted my fundraising page to their facebook profiles. These are just a few examples of people who are making a difference. There are plenty more but I am saving them for the next message so you'll just have to keep checking the blog to find out who. :)

Yesterday I sent out an update email to my 500 person contact list and in less than 24 hours another $500 has rolled in bringing my personal total to $6,870. Collectively our group of 10 climbers have raised over $34,000. I am honoured to be part of such an amazing group of people.

With only 27 days to go, reality is starting to set in that we are about to climb Africa's tallest peak, which for many of us will be the biggest physical challenge of our lives. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible. I can't wait.

Next stop, Kilimanjaro
Kristin

Glass half full? Nope, we're talking buckets.

I talk a lot. I talk even more about SHLF. But don’t even try to stop me from talking about how amazing this journey has been.

I have been here since it started as an idea in a hospital. I was at the head of the Founder’s table with the powerpoint presentation, so I got to see each and every one of their 'Deer in Headlights' look. I was the last of the 750 people to leave the 2008 Party with a Purpose, barefoot at 4am in a Montreal November and this year I will conquer Todd Chapman’s 10km version of the Annual SHLF Run in Vancouver. I have also played basketball and read with boys from Little Burgundy, watched kids play soccer in Cité de Soleil and spent hours talking to our partners about the lives they are changing every single day.

There are many tremendous success stories and each and every single one of them makes me run out of words. Really, for a talker it’s actually quite frustrating.

The one success that isn’t celebrated enough is the quality of the people involved. SHLF is built of 100% volunteers. Not one person has ever been paid or received a kick-back. There are at least 60 people who have put significant time and effort into SHLF and a core group of 30 that make it go around. I would build a statue of each and every one of them.

Everything that we do culminates in the work of our partners who work tirelessly to Make a Difference every single day. Pamela Price and Suzanne Drouin are teachers at Westmount Park School, servicing low-income neighbourhoods in Montreal. While most teachers enjoy the summer off, these two spend theirs working closely with kids they have identified as ‘at-risk’. These boys, in grades 1-6, are well behind their reading levels, some can’t read or recognize letters. Suzanne and Pamela use basketball to draw the kids to the program, recruit peer mentors from the neighbourhood and work closely with the boys to develop literacy, sports and life skills. Their success rate is staggering and we humbly watch as they go well above and beyond the call of duty. They are true heroes.

But so is Heidi Dorman – a hard-working marketing manager who has barely missed a meeting or an e-mail since we started in Vancouver in 2007. I know an asset when I see one, so I took the time to ask her what we need to do to keep her enthusiasm on board, her answer gave me the chills- just Make a Difference. Kristin Lovell, a cancer survivor and professional fundraiser, had her credit card out within 5 minutes of meeting the Foundation. A year later she was first to sign up to climb Mt Kilimanjaro, has auctioned off a photo of her hindside on top of the mountain and is actively campaigning to change the charitable giving culture in her current city, Abu Dhabi. Kelly Patrick, investment banker, came to the inaugural Party with a Purpose at the request of a friend; the next year, he Chaired it and has subsequently single-handedly raised at least $20,000. I still don’t know why, but I do know that I will grab onto his left foot and never let go if he ever thinks of going elsewhere.

As are the other 50 some odd friends who volunteer their time and skills to make SHLF work. They may do it quietly, but they play a vital role in Making a Difference in this world and they are of the rare breed who give of themselves and ask for nothing in return. Each of them has seen an opportunity to make the Make a Difference story their own, bravely stepped up without a clear idea of what comes next and collectively pushed the limits of what is possible; simply because they want to.

Board member Tuesday Reitano is one of the most outstanding people I have ever met – she has 3 degrees from top universities in 3 different countries, has a 9 year career with the United Nations and is a wife and mother of two (we’re the same age – yikes!). Just the other day she told me that life is a bucket; there are people who fill your bucket and people who drain it.

Well my bucket runneth over. In addition to helping my family heal and letting me participate in Making a real Difference, SHLF has given me the chance to go on the greatest adventure with the most outstanding bucket-fillers. No egos, no agendas, no rewards - just genuine people doing good.

If you ever listen to anything I say, listen to this - pay close attention to who they are and try to find friends just like them. You will laugh, grow, make great things happen and be humbled everyday.

Read Jenni Denniston’s story about dedicating the hike to her Father, pay attention how Frederick Dzineku climbs Africa’s highest mountain after living with diabetes for over 30 years, celebrate with Trish when she achieves the biggest physical feat of her life and follow my unbelievable sister-in-law as she continues to show un-paralleled courage and strength. These are the kinds of people you want to know, trust me.

Aimee-Noel

The Stairmaster is my Nemesis!

The Stairmaster and I have a love-hate relationship right now. I hate every minute that I am on it but love the way it feels afterwards. I think I am even starting to draw some attention at the gym with my constant groaning and grunting as I climb away!

T-minus 48 days until we start the climb so gone are the days where I make up an excuse to avoid going to the gym after work. My training involves a combination of activities, i.e. stairmaster, spin class, abs, weights, swimming, and yoga. Unfortuntely, given the 40 degree heat in Abu Dhabi, hiking outside is just not an option.

Other preparations are coming along as my travel is booked and my equipment is bought. My vaccinations are up to date and they recommend I bring some malaria pills but to be honest I’m not too keen on that. They can have bad side effects so I might take my chances with the mosquitos. I just need to get a Tanzanian visaand as it turns out, there is an Embassy around the corner from my apartment and they have a 24-hour turnaround. How convenient!

Good news on fundraising! I’m at $5,626 so over half way there! Up to 45 donors and still maintaining a healthy average at $125 per person. At this rate I need another 35 donors to reach my goal. Given that my contact list has 520 people, I’m thinking I have a decent shot at reaching this target. I’m hoping my next update will drawn in a couple thousand more. I am also planning to send out pledge forms to a few friends and ask for their help in soliciting their colleagues – small donations like $5. These things add up and can easily bring in another 1K if I can get enough people to help me. The other thing I really need to do still is get in touch with companies in the area to see if they will donate products or services which I can use for a silent auction…my goal for this weekend. That’s all for now!

Kristin

Introducing the MBA Admissions and Recruitiment Manager!

Since I signed on to climb Kili in support of SHLF in January I've been keeping my own blog about the adventure, so as I update my family and friends I'll be sure to keep our general fans up to date too via this blog.

My most recent post is below, but you can find older ones here!

Family and Fundraisers

I go to bed each night drafting a blog post, and as you can tell, my thoughts don't tend to make it to my laptop regularly. I promise to try to update this more often, even if the entry is short and sweet!

Lots has happened since my last post regarding the climb...I've done a bit of corporate outreach to companies in hopes of acquiring sponsorship, and while I haven't heard back yet, one sounds promising (shout out to Wellness Foods who make The Simply Bar) and I'll be following up this week. I also sent a random email to The Ellen Degeneres Show with an offer to support her quest of World Domination in 2010 by sporting Ellen gear on the hike and putting a flag at the top of Kili, but so far, I haven't heard from her people (and honestly don't expect to, but how cool would that be?!). The other fun thing I'm working on is a fundraising tapas and wine tasting night at Aroma Restaurant for May 15th. I'm going to target the current MBA class because it's a great way to get the two cohorts together for a social event that supports the cause at the same time (and it's an excuse for me to get to know them better too!).

The biggest thing that's happened though is that my dad and I were interviewed by The Sudbury Star on Friday for a human interest piece about my climb and how I'm dedicating the adventure to my dad. What I haven't come right out to say is that my dad was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in late February and he's currently going through chemo to try to get it under control. I'm terrified about all of this, but he is handling it incredibly well, and showing a strength I can't begin to describe. Witnessing his battle and knowing how proud he is of me for taking on this challenge is what is going to get me to the top of the mountain. In fact, I booked a flight on the weekend so that as soon as I land in Toronto post-Kili I'll continue on to Sudbury so that he's the first person who sees my pictures and hears my stories.

I'm nervous to see the article that is going to be written because we really talked about everything with the reporter in terms of our father-daughter relationship, but I have faith that it will be a good piece. As soon as it's published, I'll be sure to post the link here.

Kilimanjaro, here we come!

At this stage in the training, I still have the distinct advantage of living in a 'flipped' Southern Hemisphere climate. Just before Christmas, I hopped plane from frigid Montreal to make my home in sunny South Africa. I was (and still am) gloating as I watched the frozen ice float along the St. Lawrence River and the sun set at 4pm while I headed to the bright sun of the Motherland.

As the world will find out during the 2010 Soccer World Cup in June/July, South Africa does actually have a winter. True, it pales in comparison to Canadian ones, but rest assured my time for warm coats, umbrellas and multiple blankets will come. At which point you can all return the favour and gloat from your pools and summer cottages.

But Im making the most of it while I can. On top of the weather, Cape Town happens to be stunning and its residents very active. I have been a wee bit over-ambitious (read stupid) in my selection of activities since my arrival. Proving true to character, rather than focusing in on one activitiy and training appropriately, I have attempted to do them all and justified my behaviour by calling it all Kilimanjaro training. These have included sprint hikes up Table Mountain, a 110km bike race around the tip of Africa and the Two Oceans half-marathon. All of them have left me stupidly sore and envious of the people around me who actually adhered to a specific training plan.

Regardless of my tired muscles and bad tan lines, I am loving every moment of it and soaking up the sun while I still have the chance. I think of my co-climbers and their own training journeys everytime - Jenni trying to elliptical up the mountain, Kristin training in the stifling Abu Dhabi summer heat, Trish building biceps so big they are ripping her shirts and Kiran training through a hip injury. Training for this climb represents different challenges for each of us. From everything I have heard, my biggest challenge will be patience. The altitude will be the biggest obstacle for everyone; apparently the best way to stay healthy and summit is to take it very slowly and give your body time to acclimate. I happen to have the patience of a fruit fly and am a prime candidate for the girl who gets hasty, thinks she can handle it and gets sick along the way.

Thankfully, one of my training partners is one of South Africa's leading yogis. Nina runs her own studio and is Founder and Editor of South Africa's premier yoga/lifestyle publication - Yoga Awakening Africa. Who better to learn patience from? This weekend, we took the long route up Table Mountain, slowly. We even stopped to drink water, take photos and have some snacks. What a concept!

Aimee-Noel