The journey to Mount Kilimanjaro What started as an AMBITIOUS project is now reality. Tomorrow 2nd January 2015, a group of 40 ordinary people made up entrepreneurs, farmers, bankers, accountants, property developers, fund managers, engineers, marketing & communication professionals, CEOs/MDs of leading Kenyan brands, Chairpersons of multinationals, spouses, mothers, fathers will leave for Mount Kilimanjaro. In early January 2014, Moses Mwaura did a father - son trip to Kilimanjaro. The experience was so profound that he shared it with me and wondered if it is something I would take up when I was Rotary President. After a lot of discussions, back and forth, when I was inaugurated as President of the Rotary Club in Nairobi East in June 2014, in my maiden speech I said I was going to take 40 climbers to Kilimanjaro as part of our Club fundraiser for Polio eradication and community projects. I felt like Uhuru Kenyatta promising laptops to primary school kids. How was this going to happen? I wondered. Each climber was required to pay a minimum KSh 100,000. Were people going to sign up? I feared... Come July we started training. Every Saturday we were either walking in Arboretum or Karura or hiking a mountain in a part of Kenya. By August when we went to hike in Longonot we had a group of 75! The idea was spreading, people were finally seeing the mountain. In September we set up a Secretariat and started knocking doors for sponsors. It was not easy. We got many rejects but we didnt give up. We approached friends and family. We reached out to other Rotarians. We were collecting even KSh 100. It was OK. By November we had about 50 climbers signed up. People were buying hiking gear. We had climbers from Namibia, Canada, Turkey, Ethiopia signing up. The word was spreading. The Rotary International President had taken notice. He wanted this to be one of Rotarys flagship events to mark 110 years anniversary. Rotarians, their children and spouses signed up and committed money. Even Rotarians who were not climbing gave us money. The Secretariat run by volunteers (busy professionals) was working extra hours, meeting every week, doing the maths, calling and begging sponsors. All this happening as the training was going on. By December 2014 we had 40 climbers signed up! We had over 10 corporates sponsoring us and countless other individuals who gave us money. This morning we wrapped up one year of talk and hard work. We are finally going to Kilimanjaro!! This experience has taught me that anything in life is possible. I have worked with an amazing team. Individuals who rolled their sleeves, given their time and money to make this project a reality. I thank God for His favour. All this for a worthy cause. I am a PROUD Rotarian!!
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 11:20:34 +0000
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