Lindy's Kilimanjaro Challenge

It’s less that 10 weeks until we head off so I’ve decided it’s time to ramp up the fitness training. I’ve joined a bootcamp which I am now doing twice during the week, as well as our usual 3-5 hour weekend hike. It’s great fun, despite the pain for the two days following each session. 

On the fundraising front, things are going well with $402 to go to meet my target of $5000 for Amnesty International. If you are able to chip in, click here to go to my donation page.

Still a few more things to organise however (visa, gear etc). My family will be very glad when this is over and things are back to “normal”!

Just wanted to say thank you to Kathmandu. I wrote to them to ask for assistance with all the (expensive) gear I need for the Mount Kilimanjaro trek and yesterday I received a ‘65% off’ voucher in the mail. This will be really helpful!

My next fundraising event will be a Clothes Swap… it’s time to get new clothes and help a good cause at the same time!

The idea is simple: Everyone brings clothes that they like but no longer wear. We trade clothes with each other and each leave with an awesome new free wardrobe. And everyone chips in $10 (or whatever you can give) at the door – this is how I raise money.

It’s a win-win – we all get new clothes and with some of the money we’ve saved on shopping we can help get me to Tanzania!

Here’s the deal: Bring a big bag of clothes (and anything else you want to swap – scarves, jewelry, shoes, bags, books, etc), and I’ll provide drinks and snacks.

The event will take place on Saturday 4 May 2013. Please email me on lindymay (*at*) gmail (*dot*) com for more details.  

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. I’ve got a lot of stuff in my wardrobe that I don’t want. I’m not sure if anyone would want it. Should I bring it along?

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Training is going really well - I can’t believe how far we’ve come since we first started late last year. Previously it was a struggle to even get to the top of Mount Ainslie - now we can do it three times in a row without stopping!

We’re also trying to get out to Mount Tennant at least once a month - the trek is a bit further and the incline is more challenging. Some pics from the latest Mount Tennant trek on Easter weekend below.

The ‘Taste of Africa’ fundraising dinner on Wednesday March 6th was a wonderful success. Mecca Bah put on a delicious banquet, Zambezi Sounds moved the guests with their sounds from Africa and I was able to raise over $2000 for Amnesty International and my Kilimanjaro Challenge. Thanks so much to everyone who supported this event!    

This weekend Dad and I went out to Mount Tennent in Namadgi National Park for our training hike. We are feeling a little bit worse for wear after the 14km trek but are definitely much fitter than we were a couple of month ago! A few pics below. Please excuse my dorky hat!

A Silent Auction will be running at my fundraising event ‘A Taste of Africa’ on Wednesday March 6^th at Mecca Bah restaurant in Manuka.

Bidding will open at 7:00pm and close at 9:00pm. To bid on an item simply write down the price you are willing to pay on the bidding sheet provided on the night. The prize will go to the highest bidder at 9:00pm.

Payment can be made by cash on the night or bank transfer within 7 days of the event.

Here are the details of the prizes that will be up for grabs:

Item #1: Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Parliament House

This prize is a 45-minute tour of Australia’s Parliament House for up to 4 people, hosted by Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Federal Member for Fraser. During the tour you will visit Andrew’s parliamentary office and other areas of Parliament House which are not open to the general public.

Retail Price: Priceless

Minimum bid: $30

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I’ve been busy preparing for my ‘A Taste of Africa’ fundraising event next Wednesday and trying to get the word out among Canberrans as much as possible.

I’ve been able to get an article on page 8 of The Chronicle and page 8 of the City News. The event is also listed on the Community Switch, BMA Magazine, Mecca Bah and Amnesty International websites. Oh, and also facebook. 

Tickets sales are going OK - so far I’ve sold 36 tickets. The restaurant capacity is 200 people so would love to at least get to 50!

The band, Zambezi Sounds, graced the stages at the National Multicultural Festival a few weeks back and I heard they went off!

I’ve had some wonderful donations from local businesses towards the Silent Auction that will be running on the night. Thanks in particular to Z4 Wines and The Avenue hairdressing in Campbell. 

Tickets for the event will be available for purchase online up until 5pm on the day of the event. Tickets will also be available at the door for those who are unable to purchase online (but please buy online if you are able to).

If you can’t come along but would like to support Amnesty International, you can make a donation here.

Announcing that one of the prizes for the silent auction at my fundraising dinner on March 6th will be a behind-the-scenes tour of Parliament House for up to 4 people, hosted by Dr Andrew Leigh MP. 

I’m so excited about this prize, I think I’m going to try to win it myself!

Last weekend we headed up to the Blue Mountains for a training trek. We walked for about 4 hours (Conservation Hut - Empress Falls - Wentworth Falls circuit) which included a 700m climb. Great fun and absolutely beautiful part of the world! Some pics of Dad and I below. Dad has now also signed up for the Kilimanjaro challenge! You can help Dad’s fundraising by donating here. 

For those in Canberra I’m organising a fundraising dinner on Wednesday March 6th at Mecca Bah Restaurant in Manuka. Tickets are $50 and include yummy Moroccan banquet, glass of wine and live African music by Zambezi Sounds (a Zimbabwean group based in Canberra). Visit www.trybooking.com/chok or click the Buy Tickets button below. Should be a fun night!

I would also love to hear from you if you have any contacts or are able to donate prizes for a silent auction on the night. Thanks so much!

Just received a photo of Mount Kilimanjaro from a friend of mine, Hanna Peltonen, who was in Tanzania for work last week. Very inspiring and motivating! Hopefully I’ll be standing at the top amongst the glaciers six months from now. 

Last night I was interviewed on Matthew Alberto’s Social Entrepreneurship Series. I’ve never really considered myself as a Social Entrepreneur so was quite chuffed when Matthew asked me to be part of the series. Click here to check out the website and listen to the interview - make sure you have a good half hour to spare!

There is quite a bit of gear that I need for this trip that I would like to borrow or buy second hand. Please let me know if you have any of the below items that you would be willing to lend me: 

- waterproof over-pants

- 200 weight fleece pants

- quick drying walking short/pants combos

- hiking shirts (merino or quick dry)

- thermal/liner gloves

- thermal base layer bottoms

- thermarest sleeping mat

- head torch

- penknife

- walking poles

– water bladder such as CamelBak

Email me at lindymay (*at*) gmail (*dot*) com if you are able to help. Where applicable, I am looking for women’s size 12. I live in Canberra. Thanks so much!