We did it!

We did it!
On the Roof of Africa

Who are we & why did we do this?

We are three couples living in Nova Scotia who were intrigued by the challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. We have all been blessed to live in Canada with good health and rewarding careers. However, all of us know of a family member or friend that has been touched in some way by mental illness. We decided to dedicate our climb to rasing money for Laing House. We are proud to say that we achieved all of our goals. We returned home safely; we raised over $117,000 for Laing House, almost twice our original goal; and we all summitted on Sept 18. The trip was certainly a challenge but many of us say it was the trip of a lifetime in spite of the fact that all of us have travelled extensively. However, the last word belongs to the most famous African, Nelson Mandela, who said, "After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb".

About Laing House

Laing House is a support centre for youth living with mental illness. It is a youth-driven and community-based organization where young people between 16 and 30 years of age, who are living with a mental illness, can get the support they need to rebuild their lives. Since opening in 2001, Laing House has assisted over 300 youth from across the Maritimes. There are currently 100 members of Laing House. Programs, including employment, healthy living, education, and peer and family support, help youth recognize and develop their own strengths, talents and resources in a welcoming, respectful and collaborative environment. Laing House is the first of its kind in Canada.

The supportive environment of Laing House allows youth and staff to build meaningful relationships. They work together to create personal development, community education, and advocacy programs. These experiences and opportunities provide youth with support and resources to further educational and vocational paths. They develop the life skills needed to form relationships, secure safe housing, and experience hope for their futures. A variety of unique programs and services are employed to attain these goals. Laing House looks forward to a day where the stigma surrounding mental illness has dissipated and there is equal opportunity for all.

Thank you to all Laing House supporters!

The support that Laing House has received as a result of this climb has been fantastic. We wish to express our gratitude to all of you. Like all charities, Laing House feels the impact of the recession. The extra funds raised as a result of this climb will provide Laing House with the resources to continue to serve young people struggling with mental health issues. Thank you!

Sept 14 – to Baranco Camp via the Lava Tower

We spent a difficult night at Moir Camp. It was cold and even though it is in a gorge the wind was just the right direction to funnel down through the gorge and blow hard all night. The fabric on the tents was flapping loudly and sleep was difficult. As usual, it warmed up when the sun came up. We went about our morning clean up and preparation and got ready to start climbing.






We climbed to almost 15,000 ft at the Lava Tower. Everyone is feeling the effects of altitude now, but the girls seem to tolerate it better than the guys. They’re chatting away as we climb, but the guys are strangely quiet. We’re now well above the cloud tops near the Lava Tower.



We stop for another hot lunch just below the Lava Tower. The guys are hurting, but seem to recover when they see the food.

The rest of the day is mainly down hill to Baranco camp at 13,200 feet. As we descend, we see more and more Senecios, a large cactus like plant that is unique to Kilimanjaro. Their green leafy crowns open during the day and close at night to protect against the extremes of mountain weather.



We arrive at Baranco Camp after 8 hours of climbing.



We’re looking forward to Baranco. We can look down on the lights of Moshi so we’ll have cell phone coverage for the first time in days. As we descend into Baranco, everyone starts to feel better than they felt at the Lava Tower, except Hans whose condition continues to deteriorate. By dinner time he is too tired to leave his tent and is suffering from headaches and nausea. The guides spring into action and administer oxygen twice. They also check his lungs and temperature, both of which are normal. They reassure us that this happens and that he’ll probably be OK in the morning.  David agrees with their assessment. We go to our tents worried but hopeful.
Posted by The Kili Team

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