After months of training, hiking, preparing, fundraising, and probably talking about Kilimanjaro more than anyone ever needed to hear… it’s finally here.
I leave Montreal this Saturday, October 3rd.
On October 6th, I’ll take my first steps on the Machame Route. Over the following days, we’ll make our way through the different camps and landscapes of Kilimanjaro, gradually acclimatizing as we climb higher.
Then, on October 11th, I’ll make my final climb toward Uhuru Peak, 5,895 metres above sea level, the highest point in Africa.
I’ve included the Machame Route and a day-by-day look at where I’ll be, so you can follow the journey even while I’m off the grid.
Before I leave, though, I want to say something that matters even more than reaching the summit:
Thank you.
When I first committed to Kilimanjaro, it was a way to honour my beautiful friend Marilisa, who lost her life to breast cancer just before I received my own diagnosis, and to raise money for cancer research.
Because of your generosity, we surpassed our fundraising goal!
But somewhere along the way, this became about more than fundraising.
After cancer, I needed something to move toward. Training for this mountain gave me energy and purpose. It challenged me to become stronger and, perhaps most importantly, helped me learn to trust my body again.
It also gave me an opportunity to create more awareness around cancer, research and early detection, and to remind myself just how many lives this disease touches.
Do I want to stand on top of Kilimanjaro? Absolutely.
I’ve trained hard and I’m going to give it everything I have. But I also have enormous respect for the mountain, and I know that altitude has the final vote.
So whatever happens up there, I already know this:
Getting to the mountain has already changed me.
Starting Saturday, I’ll be mostly off the grid until I return on October 17th. I’ll be taking lots of photos, videos and journaling along the way, and I can’t wait to share the experience when I’m back.
You can follow me on my social media channels, although things will be pretty quiet while I’m on the mountain. Once I reconnect, there will definitely be stories to tell.
Thank you for your donations, your messages, your encouragement, and for walking a little piece of this journey with me.
One step. One breath. One day at a time.
Now it’s time to climb. ❤️
With love and gratitude,
Patty
P.S. Although we’ve surpassed our fundraising goal, donations are still very much welcome. Every additional dollar goes toward cancer research and represents another step toward better treatments, earlier detection, and more time with the people we love. If you’ve been thinking about donating, there’s still time to be part of this climb. ❤️
http://recherche-cancer-research.crs-src.ca/goto/PattyContenta
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