WHY MT. KENYA?

So a couple of people have asked me why I chose Mt. Kenya to climb versus some other mountain in Africa. 

So here's Ten Reasons I'm Climbing Mt. Kenya:

1. It's in Kenya -- that's where I've been going for three years now
2. I'm tired of doing safaris -- I need some new African adventures
3. It's not a technical climb -- and I'm not a technical climber
4. It's not crowded -- they say there are traffic jams on Kilimanjaro
5. It only takes 4 days to climb -- I've only got so much vacation time
6. I don't have to train extensively for it -- those of you who know me well will get this one
7. They say the view is amazing from the top -- and the bottom and the sides
8. It's what I could talk my wife into letting me climb -- she reminds me that I'm from Indiana and I have experience climbing hills, not mountains
9. It's a stepping stone to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro -- which is on my bucket list
10. It's where the Kikuyu say God lives -- He's on my bucket list to meet, too

NEW CLIMB LOGO

Thanks to Jordan Amonette for helping me with an updated Climb To End Poverty logo.  It now includes a picture of why I am making this climb -- for the children and families of Kager village.  There really is no reason with all the resources we have in the First Third World that people should lack access to healthcare in the Two Thirds World.

FIRST CLIMB SPONSOR

Wow -- the climb toward the goal of $16,335 has begun.  I gained my first Climb Sponsor today and was blown away by his generosity -- A NICKEL A FOOT!

16,335 ft * $.05 / ft = $816.75

What an encouragement for this adventure that at times sounds just a little bit crazy.

STARTING "THE CLIMB"

Well, it's June 18 and this seriously out-of-shape, middle-aged Hoosier is starting to train to get ready for the Climb.  Looks like it will be at the front end of Village Visit 8 and be the 5 days from September 12 to 16.

My main goal of this Climb is to raise money to help build and expand the medical dispensary in Kager village.  Our shared vision with the villagers is to turn this "dispensary" into a "medical clinic", which means it will be able to serve not just the village, but also the entire region surrounding Kager.

The peak of Mt. Kenya I will be climbing is called Point Lenana and is the only peak (there are two others) that can be scaled by a non-technical climber like me.  The climb will take about 4 days -- 3 days ascent and acclimation and then a 1 day climb down.

At 16,355 ft tall, Point Lenana isn't quite the 17Ker I was hoping for, but for a first time climber I think it is going to be challenging enough.  It is pretty amazing though -- we just finished our first pass budget for the foundation, walls, roof, windows/doors and plastering of the expansion and it totalled $15,877.

So my Climb goal has been set -- to find enough sponsors to raise $1 for every foot of the 16,355 that I climb.

So what's next?

• Training - I've got to put together a training plan to cover the next 90 days that will have my lungs, back, legs and head ready for the climb
• Logo - I took a first shot at the one above, but want to work on it some more
• Pic Site - I hope that I will be able to post pics and blogs during my climb
• Logistics - need to get my guide and porters set up (but I have a lead on that)
• Fundraising - I need to find 164 people that will pledge $.01 (a penny) per foot of the climb to reach my goal
• Giving Form - need to make it easy for people to pledge and give