I signed up for the Kili Climb on Christmas Eve of 2008. I procrastinated with the fundraising part of it. In fact the week before the due date I stood at about $1,400.00 and was on the verge of being told I wouldn’t make it then the miracles started to happen! And I do mean miracles!

I had two things going: a facebook group and a dinner. The night before the dinner, neither was going too well but then as they say The S**t Hit the Fan (in a great way).

First I went on my facebook group and begged that if you are going to donate please do so now and also on this group I had encouraged them to send signed flags and I would take them to the top of Kili with me. Not 10 minutes after I posted my request I got a reply from Switzerland from my now Swiss Angel Arlette Scharer who said that she didn’t have a lot of money to donate but wanted a picture of the Swiss Flag at the top. So expecting maybe $50.00 dollars I went to check it out and as I sat there and looked and looked and looked at the number I was stunned and the tears started to flow. The amount this woman from so far away, with not very much money, was, get this, $5,000.00. Yes you read that right. $5,000.00 from a total stranger! Then another miracle: the Dinner ticket sales wherein the members at the club I work at heard and started inviting people and within a day or so my event had sold out!

So instead of being on my way out I was on the way to surpassing my goal and then some in a few short days!

I WOULD NOT SUGGEST YOU TRY THIS WHEN YOU FUNDRAISE! But I will tell you to never give up the faith, believe in yourself and believe in others and you WILL succeed!

The climb itself was a blast. It was at times intense, the people were beautiful, but to me the best part was when we visited a school and my heart was touched and my mind was blown by a sweet little girl whose laughter and kindness brings tears to my eyes every time I talk about it! My life has been truly altered by this sweet little girl. It has affected me so much that after my next climb, Everest Base Camp, I will take a break and head back to the school so I can help in some way.

When you are thinking about climbing and you are coming up with excuses of why you can’t to it such as time and fundraising or training STOP. It is all BULL!

Trust ME! DO THIS NOW! It is life altering, it is mind blowing, it is the greatest thing you will ever do!