By Karen Lemaire | Project Leader
Dear Supporter and Friend,
I thought it would be good to give you an update on my Kilimanjaro climb this August 2017. All proceeds are going to the Faraja Cancer Support Fund. This is a corpus of funds that, when invested, will financially assist up to 50 cancer patients in Kenya ( children and adults) every year forever. So far the fund has raised Kshs 70million ( about $700,000 dollars) and the target is to raise Kshs 100 million ( $1million dollars). With your help, Faraja will achieve and bypass its target and help lessen the cancer burden in Kenya.
Sadly, the cancer statistics in Kenya are harrowing. With only two national radiotherapy machines for a population of Kshs 45million and with only 14 registered oncologists, more needs to be done to assist patients. Through the Faraja Cancer Support Fund, children and adults in Kenya can get timely access to quality care and a real chance of recovery. That is why I am so excited to do this kili climb and hope that, with your support, we can grow Faraja's medical fund and ensure a perpetaul stream of income that will benefit cancer patients long-term.
The past year has seen some changes in the route I selected for my hike, training regime, and the group joining me. After much research, I decided to take the longer, Lemosho route rather than the Machame route which was originally planned. I did this switch for two reasons; first because it’s less traveled and is supposed to be quite beautiful and secondly, because it is longer giving us one more day to acclimatize to the altitude. I hope this will give us a better chance to reach the summit, my ultimate goal!
My training was going very well and I was participating in all sorts of activities including my continued passion for alpine ski racing. Unfortunately, I sustained a crash during a competition and tore the ACL in my knee. I am now spending a lot of time in physical therapy and have recently gotten back on the bike. I haven’t been able to run yet, but lots of leg work should get me back logging some miles soon. Luckily, I will be able to postpone a surgical repair until after I return. This injury puts this entire hike into perspective for me – that I am even able to hike when the patients at Faraja might never hike. I will certainly be thinking of them during my journey. Thanks to everyone who has donated!
I am so fortunate that my husband, a dear friend, and one of my three daughters will also join me. We have also chosen the first week in August when there will be a full moon. Hopefully the moonlight will be of great value to highlight the trail when we make our summit push at midnight.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you so much for your continuous support.
My goal is to raise kshs 1million ( $10,000) and we are more than halfway there.
Remember it is only together we can fight cancer!
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