I've had a dream since my teen-age years. That dream is to climb Mt Kilimanjaro. Kilimanjaro is a mountain in Tanzania that sits on the border of Kenya. It is the highest peak in Africa and sits just above 19,340 feet in the air. The safest route is the longest one, and to take it you hike about 25 miles, gaining around 3,000 feet each day. The round trip journey is 9 days long. 40% of the people climbing never make it to the top. The 25 miles are not the issues so much as the lack of oxygen above 14,000 feet. About a year ago I decided to make this dream a reality. I knew Hannah was graduating from college, Maya was graduating from college, Maya and Ben were getting married, Austin was graduating from high school, and I have a "significant birthday" coming up. March 18th we leave for this adventure of a lifetime.
The time is right - it has to be now because I can't see us as a family being able to spend 2 weeks together doing something like this -- maybe ever again. I have talked about climbing this mountain with lots of friends -- and I would love it if more would climb it with me (Ryan and Amy Paterson are completing our climbing team), but really it's about being able to spend 2 weeks with my children accomplishing a task that most people in the world never accomplish. Dreaming my dream has been fun, but seeing it to fruition with my children will be indescribable. Don't ask how I am paying for it, but I am covering every single dime of the cost for all 6 of us. I figured if it takes me 10 years to pay it all back, it will be money well spent -- to spend time with my children -- time I don't think we will ever get like this again.
So why am I writing to you to tell you of my dream? Many of you know about my friends Greg and Sharon Fast and their daughter Abby. Abby is 15 years old (exactly Austin's age minus one month) and 3 months ago was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer in the soft tissue of her back. Greg and Sharon's dream is that Abby survive this cancer. Currently it is their only dream. They have done everything they know to do to see that dream become a reality. It has been emotionally, physically, and financially exhausting. But of course they are going to exhaust all their resources to see that happen. They have good insurance -- but even covering the 20% that isn't covered by insurance will amount to tens of thousands of dollars. Traditional forms of eradicating this cancer (chemo and radiation) are not proving to be successful, so they are venturing out to try some naturopathic methods. These are not covered by insurance at all. So the bills are mounting -- and Greg and Sharon's dream is eluding them. A dream that all of us have for our children -- that they would out-live us.... We don't know what the future holds for the Fasts, but we do know they need lots of emotional, physical, and financial help...and the financial help is something we all can give. Whether it's 100 dollars or 10,000 dollars.... every cent donated will help Abby.
So for our climb up Mt Kilimanjaro in 5 weeks, we want our steps to be raising money for Abby's care. There is a charitable organization you can make your contributions to.
RLC SERVICES send the checks to: 8168 N Pinewood Dr Castle Rock Co 80108.
100% of your donation will go toward Abby's care -- and 100% is tax deductible (depending on your individual tax situation).
Please help Greg and Sharon's dream become a reality as we all pursue our own dreams.
follow the climb on: www.rickskiliclimb.blogspot.com
follow Abby's care on: www.caringbridge.org/visit/abbyfast
follow your own dream...and I hope it's centered on spending more time with your own loved ones.
blessings,
nanci ricks
i'll talk to the hubs about us contributing!
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