Members of Team 1 will be on the mountain from Sept. 19 to 28, 2005. Members of Team 2 will ascend between Sept. 29 and Oct. 7, 2005. Click here to return to the main Ascent for Alzheimer's page.

Participant bios

Lorie Alexander
Lorie Alexander, a resident of Vernon, was motivated to participate in Ascent for Alzheimer's because of her best friend's father who is affected with the disease.

"Alzheimer's is a devastating disease for those who are afflicted and their entire family," Lorie says. "People need to understand it and listen and learn more about it so that they can do what they can to help in the fight for a cure."

Lorie says she's seen the daily struggles in her friend's family, and it has motivated her to help out in any way she can - even by trekking to the top of Africa's highest mountain.

The 46-year-old personal fitness trainer has two children who will be cheering her on: Devon, 16, and Sydney, 12.

Lorie hopes her participation in Ascent will give her the opportunity to take her passion and love for activity, and use it to spread awareness about Alzheimer's.

"Life hands us all kinds of obstacles, and it's what you do with them that makes a difference," Lories says. "I hope doing this climb will open others to climb to new heights. I believe to inspire someone is wonderful."

Click here to donate to Lorie! Please ensure you select "Ascent for Alzheimer's" and note Lorie's name in the "Message to Charity" section.

Ed and Ryan Arnold
Ed and Ryan Arnold will be making Ascent history, as they will be the first father and son duo to take on Mount Kilimanjaro.

Since retiring from his job as an account manager with a large U.S. packaging company in 2002, Ed, 64, decided to make annual traveling adventures with his family a priority.

After spending a month in Thailand last year with his daughter Lauren, Ed pitched the idea of Ascent for Alzheimer's to son Ryan, 27. There wasn't much pitching needed as Ryan jumped on the bandwagon immediately.

Ed, who lives in North Vancouver, first heard about Ascent back in 1999 when Gordon Campbell (now Premier of B.C.) and his family shared with the media their reason for participating in Ascent. Ed was inspired to take the same trip and support the Alzheimer Society.

Ryan, who lives in Vancouver, is an experienced hiker and currently works for an international artist management and record company. Having a background in marketing and development for concert tour merchandise, Ryan was able to apply his resources to create an Ascent for Alzheimer's 2005 T-shirt as a way for the two to raise funds.

The duo says the challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and a personal understanding of the impact of the disease have provided ample motivation for their participation.

The father and son will be dedicating their journey to Doris Arnold, Ed's mother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and passed away at the age of 89, and also to Ed's sister, Janet, who provided tremendous support to their mother throughout her battle.

Click here to donate to Ed and Ryan! Please ensure you select "Ascent for Alzheimer's" and note Ed and Ryan's names in the "Message to Charity" section.

Greg and James Baird
One of Greg Baird's passions in life is helping people. His passion is so strong that he's inspired his father to share in the journey to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Greg, a 22-year-old University of British Columbia student and part-time mill worker, decided to embark on Ascent for Alzheimer's after reading a letter his aunt received from Janice Cole, a family friend who took part in Ascent 2004.

The letter, which described Janice's experience and included information about Alzheimer's disease, piqued Greg's interest in participating and raising awareness of the disease. "The statistics on Alzheimer's and related dementias in Canada scare me," says the Burnaby resident.

The ascent to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is meant to symbolize the journey people with dementia and their caregivers face every day. Greg feels the challenge will really provide insight. "I can't bear the thought of this happening to someone I care about, or anyone for that matter."

When a spot came available on one of the Ascent teams in August, just over a month before departure, Greg's father decided to make the challenge a family affair and signed up.

"I haven't had any close family members with Alzheimer's, but my law practice in the wills and estates area has often brought me in contact with families struggling to deal with the effect of Alzheimer's on a family member," says James, 53, a lawyer with Boughton Law Corp. in Vancouver.

Greg's and James' whole family have gotten into the spirit of helping father and son raise funds. Greg's mother Sally, older brother David, younger brother Andrew and grandmother Joan have held auctions, pub nights, barbecues and even a tea party.

Click here to donate in support of Greg and James! Please ensure you select "Ascent for Alzheimer's" and note their names in the "Message to Charity" section.

Bob Bowman
Bob Bowman joined the Ascent for Alzheimer's team just weeks before departure; family friend Madelaine Hatch had been on the team, but had to withdraw at the last minute. She asked if he would be interested in taking her place; the 54-year-old from North Vancouver didn't hesitate.

"I've always thought that you have to be ready to seize an opportunity. This is not just the possibility of doing a climb but also to raise awareness of Alzheimer's to people who may not necessarily hear about it," he says.

Bob's awareness of Alzheimer's has been growing by talking to neighbors who are impacted by the disease, and also because he knew Madelaine's father-in-law, who had Alzheimer's. Now that Bob has joined the Ascent for Alzheimer's, he has been sharing that knowledge with family, friends and co-workers.

"People at the office have been asking what the climb up Mount Kilimanjaro is for. When I tell them about the disease, they start to realize how serious it is."

Bob, a project manager with engineering-construction firm SNC Lavalin, feels prepared for the climb. He keeps active by doing a lot of hiking and mountain biking, and has previously been in a high-elevation environment when he climbed Mount McKinley, the highest mountain in North America.

His wife, Debra, and their three sons are all behind him - and no one is that surprised that he is going.

"I'm in a position where I can say that I'm going in a week and I'm comfortable doing it. In my circle of friends, they're saying 'great, I'd love to be going'. They're very encouraging, and they're not surprised."

Click here to donate to Bob! Please ensure you select "Ascent for Alzheimer's" and note Bob's names in the "Message to Charity" section.

Kathy Cowlin
Kathy Cowlin is no stranger to being involved with charitable organizations. But it's Alzheimer's disease that is a constant presence in her life because her 90-year-old father, Fred, has the disease.

"My mom is still the primary care giver, and it is taking its toll on her," says Kathy, who lives in Amherstburg, Ontario. "Living more than an hour away makes it hard for me to do all that I would like to do to help. I want to give back to the Society that has helped us so much."

Kathy was an insurance marketing representative for more than 20 years. She worked for a company business until recently, and now has time to devote to her family and the community.

Although the petite, five-foot-tall Kathy first thought the Ascent for Alzheimer's was "too tough of a challenge," she overcame her doubts and signed up. "I turned 50 this past year and wanted to achieve new milestones in my life." Kathy trains by being active in sports such as swimming, tennis and biking, and always takes the stairs rather than the elevator.

She says she's confident that great strides can be made to fight this disease through research and that's why she decided to participate in the event.

"I believe that it is time to take the public's awareness to new levels - a true awareness of how large the statistics are now and where they are heading," explains Kathy.

Cheering Kathy on will be her parents, Julia and Fred, her husband, Fred, their two sons David and Brian and their families.

Click here to donate to Kathy! Please ensure you select "Ascent for Alzheimer's" and note Kathy's name in the "Message to Charity" section.

Ken Long and Rose Creamer
It was Rose Creamer's position as President of the Board of the Alzheimer Society of London and Middlesex in Ontario that brought her and her husband, Ken Long, to participate in the Ascent for Alzheimer's. She had been a volunteer with the organization for 12 years and was attending a national conference in 2003 when she heard past participants Sue Ormiston and Sandy Riley talk about their Ascent experiences.

"I was so moved by their presentation that I called my husband right away and asked him if he would like to do this," says Rose, a business manager.

Rose and her husband Ken, a registered nurse, live in St. Mary's, Ontario. They are participating in memory of Rose's mother who had vascular dementia and passed away in 1997.

"As a nurse, I see and work with many families who deal with Alzheimer's on a daily basis," says Ken. "Being a part of the 2005 team climbing Mount Kilimanjaro has already helped me raise awareness in our community of this disease."

To help get in shape for the climb, Ken and Rose have been jogging regularly and Rose joined a fitness club. They are participating in the climb for the adventure, as well as to raise awareness of the disease.

"I hope to raise awareness of Alzheimer's and to raise funds towards research so that my children do not have to be caregivers or suffer from this terrible disease," says Rose.

Click here to donate to Ken and Rose. Please ensure you select "Ascent for Alzheimer's" and note their names in the "Message to Charity" section.

Dianne Doyle
North Vancouver resident Dianne Doyle heard about Ascent for Alzheimer's earlier this year when she bumped into her friend Madelaine Hatch at a party.

Madelaine had already signed up to participate in this year's Ascent, and she inspired Dianne to attend a presentation by Sue Oakey, who had guided previous teams to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Dianne knew immediately that Ascent for Alzheimer's was something she wanted to be a part of. "I signed up the same night I heard Sue," says Dianne.

Dianne is a nurse and a vice-president of Providence Health Care. "In my health-care career, I have been aware of the precedence of Alzheimer's and the toll it takes on individuals and their families. Ascent is a way for me to raise awareness and funds for research, and to help educate others about the disease."

When Dianne will be trekking up Mount Kilimanjaro, her husband Ken, and children Ashley, 18, Christopher 15, and Melissa, 14, will be cheering her on.

"In addition to supporting the Alzheimer Society, I see this as an opportunity to challenge myself and experience a piece of the world I've never been to."

Click here to donate to Dianne! Please ensure you select "Ascent for Alzheimer's" and note Dianne's name in the "Message to Charity" section.

Dr. Ken Hirst
Dr. Ken Hirst is a physician in Chilliwack who will accompany Team 2 on their ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Sarah Holmes, Catherine Keen, and Jenny Sanders
Ascent for Alzheimer's is a challenge that childhood friends Sarah Holmes, Catherine Keen, and Jenny Sanders will be taking together.

Catherine and Jenny were inspired to join Sarah on her journey up Mount Kilimanjaro after learning about her personal connection to Alzheimer's disease.

"My grandfather was diagnosed and subsequently succumbed to Alzheimer's disease eight years ago," Sarah says. "I wanted to do something that would help make a difference so that other families wouldn't have to suffer the same way mine did."

The three women have stuck together through thick and thin for years. They all went to Collingwood School in West Vancouver and are now teammates on the women's field hockey team, the West Vancouver Vipers. Sarah, 28, lives in North Vancouver and is an account manager for Travelers Financial Corporation; Catherine, 29, also of North Vancouver, is an art teacher; and Jenny, 24, of West Vancouver, is a representative for Copasetic, a sport apparel designer.

"I think it's pretty incredible that I have received such great support from my friends, and I'm happy to be doing this with the both of them," Sarah says.

The trio hopes to exceed the $30,000 they must raise that will go towards research and the community-based support services and education programs provided by the Alzheimer Society.

Ascent for Alzheimer's not only gives the three an opportunity to raise funds to fight Alzheimer's disease, it will also give them the chance to experience the incredible stamina and determination it takes to reach the peak of Kilimanjaro - a journey that will symbolize in many ways the challenges faced by those impacted by Alzheimer's.

During their trek, the life-long friends will have a lot of support coming their way from home. Sarah's fiancée, Thomas, will be cat-sitting while she's on her trek, and cheering her on along with her parents and siblings. Catherine will be counting on the support of husband Richard, as well as family members, and the students she teaches at Collingwood School. And rooting for Jenny will be her boyfriend, Rich.

"It is not until we climb inside another person's shoes that we can truly feel and understand the ongoing battle they experience on a daily basis," Catherine explains. "This difficult journey up Kilimanjaro is the closest we will come to step into another's shoes."

Jenny agrees: "Imagine yourself at the top of Whistler, 7,500 feet above sea level. Now, imagine yourself two-and-a-half times higher and the incredible feeling of being able to attain a personal goal while helping those in your community."

Click here to donate to Catherine, Sarah or Jenny! Please ensure you select "Ascent for Alzheimer's" and note the participant's name in the "Message to Charity" section.

Dr. Scott Markey
Dr. Scott Markey is a family doctor in Chilliwack who also has a large geriatric component to his work. He will accompany Team 1 on their ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Sharon Moore
Visiting Africa has been a life-long dream for Dr. Sharon Moore.

But it wasn't until a few years ago that she started thinking about making her dream a reality after hearing a speaker talk about Ascent for Alzheimer's during a seminar at a Gerontological Nursing Conference.

Another inspiration for Sharon was her colleague and friend, Lynne Mitchell-Pedersen, who took part in Ascent in 2004.

"I've had a lot of conversations with Lynn and have received great advice from her," Sharon says. "I call her my mountain mentor."

Sharon also has a personal connection to the disease. While attending Anderson University in Indiana in the1970s, she developed a strong friendship with her roommate's mother, who is currently living with Alzheimer's.

"She's like my second mother," Sharon says. "She was so kind and caring to me while I was in university that I want to do something for her to show her how much she's helped me." As well, Sharon's husband's aunt is living with the disease.

The 52-year-old Calgary resident and associate professor at Athabasca University says the climb is about adventure and having the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals who live with challenges on a day-to-day basis.

"I believe that climbing this mountain, or any mountain, is centred on having hope and learning how to sustain hope through tough circumstance. As I learn strategies to strengthen and nourish my hope, I know that it will increase my capacity as a nurse and psychologist to help others learn to find hope regardless of the circumstances they find themselves in."

After Ascent for Alzheimer's, Sharon plans to join her sister and spend some additional time in Uganda doing volunteer work in five medical clinics.

Click here to donate to Sharon! Please ensure you select "Ascent for Alzheimer's" and note Sharon's name in the "Message to Charity" section.

Brandi-Lynn Scales
When Brandi-Lynn Scales' co-worker, Claude Rinfret, returned from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro as part of Ascent for Alzheimer's 2003, she started listening to his stories, fascinated. After her grandfather, who had Alzheimer's, passed away earlier this year, she decided to use Ascent 2005 as an opportunity to "bring something positive out of our family's unfortunate loss."

"I feel it is an honour and a privilege to be a member of the 2005 Ascent team and I'm particularly grateful to have the opportunity to assist in raising the awareness of the devastating impact this horrible disease has," says Brandi-Lynn, a senior tax manager with Deloitte & Touche in Vancouver.

Brandi-Lynn sees the experience as a journey and a destination, as well as a personal challenge. For most trekkers, says the 32-year-old, Kilimanjaro is a life-changing experience. "To climb the mountain is to witness the process of the world's evolution in reverse - from the hot equatorial plains of Africa to the arctic ice fields that still exist on the summit, four miles above the plains."

Brandi-Lynn, who has started hiking in order to prepare herself for the Ascent for Alzheimer's, says that to stand on the "Roof of Africa" will be a fantastic experience and well worth any personal challenges she will face in getting there.

Click here to donate to Brandi-Lynn. Please ensure you select "Ascent for Alzheimer's" and note Brandi-Lynn's name in the "Message to Charity" section.

Aaron and John Vidas
When his father called him at school and asked if he would be interested in participating in Ascent for Alzheimer's, it took Aaron Vidas less than a split second to decide it was something he wanted to do.

"This climb offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand my life experiences by visiting a continent and culture new to me and complete something that is challenging and a lot of fun," says Aaron, 20, a student of business, history and sociology at York University.

Aaron's father, John Vidas, was convinced this would be an adventure worth pursuing after he saw a slide show by Chris and Johanna Oosthuizen, participants in 2003. "I have seen the disruptive and debilitating impact that a dementia-related disease can have on a healthy and vibrant individual, in both clients and friends," says the 57-year-old investment and wealth manager.

"Hopefully my small contribution and the contributions of others will increase the understanding of Alzheimer's and provide better treatment."

For his part, Aaron is grateful to be given the chance to raise money and awareness for what he sees as "a terrible and debilitating condition that has robbed many of close family, friends, and companions."

"I hope that people I do encounter throughout my fundraising and the climb itself share with me their stories and how their lives were touched with Alzheimer's," he says.

John and Aaron, who live in Coquitlam, are only the second father-and-son-team to participate in Ascent. John's wife, Rose, and 16-year-old daughter Amanda are rooting for them.

Click here to donate to Aaron and John. Please ensure you select "Ascent for Alzheimer's" and note their names in the "Message to Charity" section.