Kilimanjaro Climb 2023

Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest single free-standing mountain above sea level in the world

5 years Widowed.
50th Birthday.
500 Widows.
5000 Meters.
$50K Raised.

This year I will be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to say goodbye to fear and to raise awareness for widowed women living in poverty.

My journey into widowhood started in the blink of an eye, a mere fraction of a second in December 2018 with no warning.  I was broken, crushed.  I didn’t know that days could be so dark while you were still alive.  Countless people came alongside to support me and my kids in our time of deepest need.  The depth of gratitude that I feel for each act of love can never be fully expressed.   Without that help, we surely would not have made it.

I was deeply moved when I learned of the plight of widows living in poverty.  They are at risk for land theft, violence, and slavery.  They have become virtually invisible to the outside world.  I know firsthand how it feels to lose your spouse, but I can’t imagine the horror that accompanies that loss as you now fight for your life, and the protection of your children.

As I approached my 50th birthday, I realized it was my turn to come alongside these women to bring light and hope to their lives.  My goal is to raise awareness of their dire situation and to raise funds to help support them in their time of need.

Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro will be my way of saying farewell to fear, of continuing to fight for those in need, of lifting my eyes to keep on climbing through this life and not give up.  Through the tears, the pain, and the darkness, Kilimanjaro is my proclamation that I am still here.