The last couple of weeks have been a blur, mostly due to adjusting to a new job. I wonder where the time has gone! Training is gradually beginning but unfortunately, I have not yet started hiking.. The ski hill I was going to hike had a Halloween attraction set up and I didn't want to get in trouble for trespassing! The snow has now fallen and ski season will soon begin, so modifications will be made...
It seems surreal to me at times that I am training to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in July. One year ago this month I was diagnosed with MS and felt as if my world was crumbling around me.. Now I have this exciting adventure of climbing with 7 others who know just what it means to hear those four words... You have multiple sclerosis. I hope this climb gives me and the team an opportunity to share our stories with others and to inspire them. It's funny, I did not even know I had the dream of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro until I was given the opportunity..
I heard from Lori, our lead the other day and she said we have men and women from all over the country, including WI, MN, IA, IL, OR, WY, CO, WA, MT, and CA, a climber or two from overseas and two with Parkinson's who will be joining our team. Our medical team includes an MS researcher/biochemist, a neurologist, a physician’s assistant, physical therapists, and sports trainers. Overall, about 30 will make the trek. I can hardly wait to meet these amazing individuals....
I will be joining 11 other men and women with Multiple Sclerosis to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa from July 10-24, 2011. This journey is to raise awareness and funding for research to find a cure. Please join me in this journey by following along on this blog. I welcome your donations and prayers.
