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Kilimanjaro Update

As previously mentioned a team of Ottawa executives and Doctors were going to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

Here are the results of the Ottawa team I received from Jim today:

Through your support I was able to raise over $15,000 in donations for breast cancer. The team as a whole managed to raise over ½ million for breast cancer and there are still several large corporate donations pending so we expect that number to grow significantly. I have included a short summary of our Kilimanjaro climb below those folks who didn’t have access to my climbing blog.

One of the unexpected outcomes of the funding raising drive was getting to touch base with so many friend and colleagues who I don’t see on regular basis. I would like to thank you again for your support of me and the breast cancer research & treatment. I am confident your generosity will make a real difference.

Yours sincerely,

Jim



I returned from Africa last Friday and I am slowly getting back into the swing of day to day life here in Ottawa. I feel great. I don’t appear to have brought home any nasty African diseases or parasites. But like my climbing mates, I did lose weight in the climb (~10 lbs) but I am feeling none worse for it. Climbing Kilimanjaro was a powerful life experience. The mountain and climb were tough (both mentally and physically) but hugely rewarding. It did have its impact on the team, of a climbing team of 23, 20 of us summated. Two of our team (including the trip organizer) were overcome by Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and were forced to descend. A third developed pulmonary oedema – a very dangerous condition where the lungs start to fill with fluid. As painful as it was (for rest of us and them) to give up on their dream of summating, there was no doubt that right choice was made for each of them. But to put this in perspective, the team had a success rate of over 90% which more than double the mountain average of 40% - no doubt a dividend on the months of training logged through 2008. The scenery on the mountain from jungle to ice field was breathtaking. The climbing team was a really remarkable and diverse group of people to spend 3 weeks with. Most the people on the team had never met before the climb but the common goal and bit of adversity really seemed to cement strong connections between us. The people and country of Tanzania were a captivating as well. People are warm and funny and quite a bit more laid back than a bunch of Canadian doctors and exec’s. We went on a short safari in the Serengeti after the climb. We were fortunate that this time of year the herds are migrating. We saw every African mammal I could name and lots ones new to me as well. Some like wildebeest and zebra’s we saw in herds numbering in the 10,000’s of animals. It is hard to find an aspect of the trip that wasn’t positive, that being said I am happy to be home and picking up the traces of my regular life which I am so fortunate to lead.

Ottawa Team to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro

No, I'm not going to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. However, Jim Davis will be in order to raise money to fund cancer research. Jim was my bosses boss at Nortel over a decade ago. He was also my bosses boss at Mitel and a big reason I decided to join Mitel.

Here are the details from an email I received from Jim today:

In January 2009, I will joining a team of 30 doctors, professionals and business leaders from the Ottawa area who will embark on the journey of a lifetime, the ascension of Mount Kilimanjaro, the summit of Africa. The ascent/descent will last 13 days (approximately 9 to 15 km of climbing each day). The climb will take the expedition through every climate zone on earth, with temperatures ranging from +40 C in the African Savannah to -45 C at the Summit of Kilimanjaro.

Each of the participants will look after their own costs of ascending Kilimanjaro and have also committed personally raise substantial donations for the “Reaching the Summit for Montfort” challenge. The expedition goal is to raise $500,000 to be invested in Cancer Care Programs with a particular focus on the prevention, detection and treatment of breast cancer. We all cannot help but to be touched by cancer in some way - personally, within our families or within circle of friends. Recent data shows that 39% of Canadian women and 44% of men will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime and despite all the advances in cancer treatment 1 in 4 will die from this disease. Cancer is a top healthcare priority for our society.

Personally I am excited to involved in such an unique challenge in support of such a worthwhile cause. From our experience working with Gerry Savoie (CEO of Montfort) and his team at hospital, I have been impressed with the Montfort’s willingness to take reasonable risks to achieve breakthrough outcomes. I have no doubt that the “Reaching the Summit” challenge will be similarly successful for all those involved – the precipitants, the donors, the patients and ultimately the broader community that will be touched by cancer.

I asking for your support in form of a donation to Montfort foundation (see details below). All donations over $20 are eligible for a Canadian tax receipt. 100% of the donations will be directed toward Cancer Care Programs at the Montfort Hospital working in collaboration with Cancer Treatment Center of the Ottawa Hospital.

Thank you for your support,

Jim

To donate to Jim, go to the Mountfort Foundation. Pick Sponsor Individual or Team. Pick Jim Davies. Pick Make a donation besides Jim's picture and fill out the donation form.

This is a great cause and it certainly will be an amazing accomplishment.

Good luck Jim!