|
Why have more than 130 Canadians chosen Ascent for Alzheimer’s as the vehicle for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?
1. | Join our success. We have a more than 90% rate for a successful summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, and a 100% success rate in terms of safety. For everyone else who makes the attempt each year, approximately 20,000 people, less than half actually reach the summit. |
2. | Setting the right pace. We take you up over seven days, rather than the more common four-day journey. The extra time, which includes one full day mid-mountain, allows for better acclimatization as you trek up toward the summit, and is one factor credited for our high success rate. |
3. | At the heart of the matter. For many people, committing to Ascent for Alzheimer’s fulfills a personal mandate to give back to the cause; perhaps a loved one had the disease, and they are looking for a way to help other families by supporting the Alzheimer Society. But the trek to the summit also holds a deeper meaning. Ascent is less about reaching the summit than it is about the journey – a journey that symbolically represents the mountain that those impacted by dementia face every day. |
4. | Funds go right to the cause. Because Ascent participants are responsible for paying their own expenses, something unique to similar fundraisers from other organizations, all funds raised go directly to support the Alzheimer Society of B.C. as well as research. Each participant agrees to pay his or her travel expenses as well as making a commitment to fundraise a minimum of $10,000 through sponsorships or other personal fundraising initiatives. Since its inception, Ascent has raised more than $1.6 million. |
5. | Support at home. Whistler-based Sue Oakey-Baker – a world-renowned guide who has climbed, skied, and mountaineered all over the world – has served as the local guide and mentor since the climb began. Coordinating everything from the route to training on the local mountains, Sue has also summated Mount Kilimanjaro 10 times with the Ascent teams. |
6. | Support in Africa. Over the last decade, the Alzheimer Society of B.C. has developed a strong relationship with the Marangu Hotel, located in the village of Marangu. Managed by Seamus Brice-Bennett, who often serves as the lead guide for the trek, the porters who work out of the hotel are paid more than other local guide companies. They look forward to accompanying our Ascent teams, and have been credited by many participants as being an integral part of the life-changing experience! |
7. | Doctor on the team. The Ascent team travels with a North American doctor from the start of the trek right to the finish. That means someone is always on hand to help ensure everyone’s medical safety, like watching for signs of altitude sickness. |
8. | Following a different path. So many people ascend Mount Kilimanjaro via the Marangu route that it’s earned the nickname of the ‘Coca-Cola Route’. While the route can vary somewhat based on a variety of factors, the Ascent teams typically ascend via the Rongai Route – still a comparatively easy route, but much less crowded. |
9. | Team building. Brought together through training and the journey itself, Ascent teams are also united by their commitment to people impacted by dementia. Set at a maximum of 10 participants per team, the groups often include family members, friends, or co-workers all focused on a common destination and cause. |
10. | Notables. More than 130 Canadians have participated in Ascent for Alzheimer’s since its inception in 1998, each one of them remarkable for making the journey, and for their commitment to making a difference for those impacted by the disease. Some are notable because of their prominence within their communities, others for their exceptional dedication to reaching for the top. |
2006
Team included Vancouver businesswoman and founder of Graham and Associates, Anne Graham. |
2005
Team included Dianne Doyle, a nurse and Vice-President at Providence Health Care in Vancouver. |
2004
Team included Vancouver businessman Gordon Lyster, co-owner of Northern Athletic, Future Fundraising and Lysco Holdings. |
2003
Team included Elaine Wright. Living with early stage Alzheimer’s disease, she is the first Canadian, if not the first person in the world, with Alzheimer’s disease to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro. Also on the team was Elaine’s son Cameron, then 16, who is the youngest person to have joined an Ascent team. |
2002
Team included veteran CBC reporter and host Susan Ormiston. |
2001
Team included Kelly Abbott, Host and producer of Okanagan Now on CHBC Television, Kelowna. |
2000
Team included Dr. Danuta Skowronski, Physician epidemiologist at the BC Centre for Disease Control, and Joanne Sutton, On-air personality for 650 CISL in Vancouver. |
1999
Team included B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, who was then Opposition Leader, and his family; his journey has inspired many people to consider Ascent. The team also included Tamara Porier, now Creative Director for City TV in Vancouver, who filmed the documentary A Journey to Remember during the trek. |
1998
The inaugural Ascent for Alzheimer’s team included Bruce Allen, manager of artists like Bryan Adams, Michael Bublé and Martina McBride. |
|
