It always amazes me how incredibly fast time goes. It felt like just yesterday when I signed up to join Solar Sister in a quest to climb Mount Kilimanjaro this July in honor of their five-year anniversary of providing light, hope, and opportunity to over 1,000+ Solar Sister Entrepreneurs across Sub-Saharan Africa. Now there are only six weeks left until I am on the way to Tanzania and I have much training and fundraising left to do.
I must admit that I am already tired out with all the training and it is only the tip of the iceberg. The hike will be 50 miles and almost 20,000 feet so I have much work to do. I have been trying to exercise every day and increase my miles on foot. I’ve walked three lakes, hiked regional and state parks, run up hills and have also been biking. I’m tired but whenever I get drained I realize that I am on my way to achieving my goal both physically and financially.
On my way around one of many urban lakes in Minneapolis.
To meet this challenge, each member of our team is required to raise $4,000 which will help train 8 new Solar Sister Entrepreneurs. As of today, I’m over half way to my goal and have successfully raised $2,133! I am beyond thrilled! Most of the money has been raised by my social network community of blogging friends as well as through Facebook and a home party I hosted in mid-May. It is so incredibly exciting to know that I will be personally impacting another woman and her family’s life through my efforts. When I get exhausted or stressed out by all the training, I remember this simple fact. That what I am doing will change lives and it empowers me to keep on going despite the achy feet. Soon I’ll be on my way to climbing the highest peak in Africa and I can hardly wait.
This post was inspired by the Weekly Photo Challenge: On the Way.
If you are interested in seeing my progress on fundraising, please check out my CrowdRise page here. It also includes bios on our international team that is doing the Solar Sister climb. Any words of encouragement and support are welcome!
Inspiring AND climbing! you’re just great! keep the good job going, you’ll do awesomely! (I’m getting ready for Mont Blanc in 2 months! we’ll have climbing experiences to share!)
Thank you! My dad did Mont Blanc and said it is amazing! Good luck to you too!
Nicole, you are an inspiration. I wish you lots of luck on this venture, which is not without personal risk. It’s a joy to know you. 🙂
Thanks Jo! It is a pleasure to know you too and I hope someday I can meet you in person! Thanks for your support!!!!
How amazing! Good luck with it!
Thanks Laura!
Congrats on all of your success so far on the fundraiser!
Ahh thanks Jennifer! You have been a big part of it and for that I’m grateful! You have inspired me so much over the years and I am so honored to know you Jennifer!
I’m honored to know you, too. You’re such a giver. I know you’ll make your goal!!
The feeling is so mutual Jennifer!
Well done with all the fundraising and good luck with the pre training and then the climb. It sounds daunting to me but you are certainly on the way there.
Thanks Irene!!! Appreciate the kind words of support!
Wonderful Nicole. Happy to support you. Best wishes
Andrew: just opened my email and saw your donation! Wow I am so incredibly honored!!! Thank you so much. This means a lot to me and most of all to the future Solar sisters who will get a new opportunity at life! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
My absolute pleasure Nicole.
🙂
WTG Nicole! I hope you reach your goals. You and your big heart are a great blessing to the world. It must feel wonderful to be able to bring about change at a grass roots level like this. I wish you luck with it all.
Alison
Thanks so much Alison! I need all the support I can get! I physically and mentally can do it but sometimes it gets hard with all the planning and worrying about the kids. Thankfully I finally found a good sitter to help out so that is a huge relief. Even more of a relief than the training and fundraising to me! 🙂 That’s being a mom I guess. 🙂
WONDERFUL ACCOMPLISHMENTS!!! Congratulations https://sherpatsewang.wordpress.com/2015/05/24/solukhumbu-gateway-to-the-mt-everest/
Thank you so much!
Sounds like you are doing some amazing training and fundraising! Such a great cause.
Thanks Sue! It is hard. A lot going on with the kids and end of school year. Sometimes I get pretty anxious about the whole thing but thankfully I finally found a babysitter to help so that is a huge relief! I am really excited though. More so once I’m on the plane!
Reaching the summit is a matter of taking it slow. might be near to impossible on a 4-day trek but becomes almost a 100% chance on a 7-day round trip trek. It’s all about the high altitude so don’t worry too much about fitness 🙂
Thanks! Yes I’ve thankfully done some long trekking so I know that it can be more of a marathon not a race. I’m also glad I’ve been at high altitude just this last November and did ok. I’m really looking forward to it!
Reblogged this on Nilzeitung.
A great endeavor, Nicole!
Thanks Amy! I’m really excited about the trip!