On Saturday, December 23, 2006, I was reading the Ottawa Citizen and came across an article entitled NO MOUNTAIN TOO HIGH by Don Butler. It told the story of two ladies, Gisèle Mansfield, the mastermind, and Liza Badham, who were dedicated to helping the grandmothers of Africa through the Stephen Lewis Foundation's Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign. The goal is to raise money for African grand-mothers nurturing children orphaned by AIDS. Not only were Gisèle and Liza determined to raise a huge sum of money, but they were planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to create awareness of the plight of the grandmothers. These two women, who portrayed themselves to be quite ordinary types, sure didn't sound ordinary to me. I tried to get on with my day, but the story kept resonating in my mind so I read the article again and checked out the web site. WOW!!!

I have a soft spot for orphaned children or those suffering from maladies of any kind. My son volunteered in a Haitian orphanage for 15 months and which I visited while he was there. My eyes were opened to these poor, little souls bumbling along the best way they could, and these were the lucky ones. The unlucky ones weren't in an orphanage. Children need care, and that's what the African grandmothers are dedicated to doing but with very few resources. As a mother and grandmother, it pains me to see children struggle. As well, I have become a sponsor of a very bright 16 year old girl in Lesotho who otherwise couldn't go to school.

And then there was the thought of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, which is 19,341 feet high and the problems encountered by the significant altitude, and with its rainforests at the bottom and snow and cold winds at the top, and the thought of bedding down in a tent each night of the trek. As a member of the Rideau Trail Hiking Club, and who hiked from Ottawa to Kingston in the summer of 2005, I didn't think the actual hike would be too much trouble, and there are various strategies for coping with altitude sickness. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro would be nothing in comparison to the challenges faced by the grandmothers.

I am an ordinary person. Married for 36 years, lived in the same house for 35 1/2 years, two children - first a son and then a daughter, one grandson, station wagon in the driveway, vegetable garden in the backyard. I worked for the municipal government of the former City of Nepean. Because I was under contract in the Mayor and Councillor's offices, when amalgamation occurred, my job evaporated. I'm retired - I have time.

A few days passed after reading the article. I found myself thinking about this mission more and more. I decided to e-mail Gisèle to ask her if she needed help with her crusade and I received an e-mail back asking me which part, the fund raising here at home or the climb. I replied both. We met to discuss it. By helping the grandmothers, it is the orphans who ultimately benefit, which in turn ricochets in countless directions. I thought it over some more and here I am, ready to pitch-in to help those African grandmothers the best way I can.

        Trudy Stephen
        February 13, 2007