By André Lachapelle
It's now several months since we started our journey to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. The training, the fund-raising, the meetings, our 5 to 7s .... all these activities are an integral part of the journey and the experience of a life-time. I don't remember who exactly, but a wise man once said: "The journey is as important as the destination". Now I understand why.
Everything we're experiencing at the moment - buying our equipment, going to Accueil Bonneau and so on - builds character. We're still 12 000 Km and around 280 days from Kilimanjaro, but we're already feeling the effects. The relationship between team members is different from that with other colleagues. A special bond of friendship, that I don't have with others, is developing in the team.
I was expecting all that. I was expecting emotional and personal changes in myself. I was expecting to feel uncomfortable with fund-raising.
But one thing I hadn't expected - meeting special people along the way. We met two of them last night: Guylaine Keable and Jean Pagé. They are also members of the Desjardins family and live in beautiful Quebec City. What's so special about that? Well, they climbed Kilimanjaro in 2010 and, as if that wasn't enough, they're now getting ready to climb to the Everest base camp. They deserve our profound respect and admiration - special people!
It's so remarkable that, although Guylaine and Jean were total strangers before, it only took an e-mail telling them about our project for them to offer us their friendship. It's as if we're now part of a family. There are ordinary people and there are those who have climbed or are going to climb Kilimanjaro. The connection is instantaneous, it feels comfortable, it's so easy. And talk of help - mutual help. I've already mentioned that Guylaine and Jean are from Quebec City. But they had to come to Montreal on business so we arranged to meet - in the evening - late in the evening! I've never known a meeting to be set up so easily. "OK, if I come to Montreal - I'll have a look at my agenda - perhaps at lunch-time - we could meet for lunch - maybe there'd be more time after my meeting......."
How about Wednesday evening at 7.30? No problem. It's settled! The only way I can explain what's happening is that it's the mountain itself and the adventure that are bringing us together in friendship.
How can I describe their presence last night? Informal, among friends (remember - this was our first meeting), open, relaxed. But what a flood of information.....
Thank you Guylaine. Thank you Jean. We were completely engrossed by your thrilling story, your advice and your pictures. You've given us so much energy - so much, in fact, that I'd be ready to set off tomorrow. But cool it - slow down a bit - you have to take the time....
Good luck for Everest. I'll be one of your most ardent followers throughout your journey.
I invite everyone to follow Guylaine and Jean's adventure on the following link:
http://monteverest2012.com/
And maybe you'd like to encourage them with a gift.
Translated by Pamela Gauvin
www.ex-pe.ca
Mathieu Fleury mountain partner Ex-Pé
Thursday 24 November 2011
Team Kili-2012 Fund-raising Events
Full descriptions of these events may be found on the French blog:
Clic on "Français" at the top of the Home Page
Casino du 22 octobre 2011
October 22, 2011
Casino with 12 Black Jack tables and 2 Poker tables
Over 100 guests attended - a big success!
Souper gastronomique, vente de hot-dog, photos...
September 23, 2011
Gastronomical Supper at the Calixa-Lavallée Institute
Held with the collaboration of the SCD social club
90 full and satisfied guests
September 24, 2011
Hot-dog sale outside the Rona store, Terrebonne
October 10, 2011
Group and family photos offered at the Laval Nature Center
Une autre réussite!
September 1, 2 & 3, 2011
Grocery packing at the Super-C, Terrebonne
Bonbons, chocolats et bretzels!
On-going activity - the Team Kili-2012 Corner Shop
Home-made confectionary: trail-mix nuts, chocolate pretzels, pop-corn, sugared pea-nuts, chocolates and so on. These are all stylishly packed, presented and sold at the office.
Orders received for 450 boxes of hand-made chocolates! Quite a challenge!
Créativité, innovation et talent!
Acivité emballage d'épicerie - un succès!
June 25, 2011
Une première activité de levée de fonds se termine....
Activité semaine de Päques
April 21, 2011
Easter sale of home-made confectionary - 1078 chocolates and 278 lollipops
Our first fund-raising effort - profits were double our expectations!
Translated by Pamela Gauvin
Clic on "Français" at the top of the Home Page
Casino du 22 octobre 2011
October 22, 2011
Casino with 12 Black Jack tables and 2 Poker tables
Over 100 guests attended - a big success!
Souper gastronomique, vente de hot-dog, photos...
September 23, 2011
Gastronomical Supper at the Calixa-Lavallée Institute
Held with the collaboration of the SCD social club
90 full and satisfied guests
September 24, 2011
Hot-dog sale outside the Rona store, Terrebonne
October 10, 2011
Group and family photos offered at the Laval Nature Center
Une autre réussite!
September 1, 2 & 3, 2011
Grocery packing at the Super-C, Terrebonne
Bonbons, chocolats et bretzels!
On-going activity - the Team Kili-2012 Corner Shop
Home-made confectionary: trail-mix nuts, chocolate pretzels, pop-corn, sugared pea-nuts, chocolates and so on. These are all stylishly packed, presented and sold at the office.Orders received for 450 boxes of hand-made chocolates! Quite a challenge!
Créativité, innovation et talent!
July 1st, 2011
The Corner Shop adds muffins to the menu (they sell like hot-cakes....)
It's getting even more stylish with new display units (custom-made by our cabinet maker, Pierre)
which encourage brisk sales
It's getting even more stylish with new display units (custom-made by our cabinet maker, Pierre)
which encourage brisk sales
June 25, 2011
Grocery packing at Maxi's, Laprairie
Une première activité de levée de fonds se termine....
Activité semaine de Päques
April 21, 2011
Easter sale of home-made confectionary - 1078 chocolates and 278 lollipops
Our first fund-raising effort - profits were double our expectations!
Translated by Pamela Gauvin
Thursday 17 November 2011
Love and Dignity on the Menu
By Isabelle Privé
Last Saturday, several members of the team paid a second visit to Accueil Bonneau to help with a meal. I was privileged to be part of it.
Acceuil Bonneau isn't just about giving a meal to the homeless. Accueil Bonneau is the purest form of love, friendship and generosity.
We were given a visit round the premises when we arrived and the "little sister" who showed us round told us about its history. Highly organised, they provide clothes (already washed and ironed), haircuts, even help with the budget. It all goes like clockwork.
It's already a lot. But do you know what she said does the most good for the people who go there? It isn't so much the soup, the pair of socks or the haircut. It's the welcome, the smile and and the fact of just being noticed by someone.
I can vouch for that. My job at the meal on Saturday was to welcome them, collect their entrance tickets (handed out by another volunteer at the door) and give them a tray on which my colleagues could serve the meal. I was so impressed and touched by their pleasant manner and politeness. It was a cold day so they took the tray I handed them with cold hands but with a look, a smile and a thank you. Simple things, but I felt the pride behind them. And I too was proud because, for once, I looked beyond the itinerant at the corner of the street. I saw a human being like me, like everybody.
The sisters who run Accueil Bonneau thanked us for volunteering. It's funny, but I had the impression that we should have been the ones to say thank you. Thank you for allowing us to share in this exercise in love and friendship and for reminding us that a simple smile can be as warming as a plate of soup. A lesson in living to remember and to pass on. And thank you to the Kili 2012 project for giving me the excuse I needed for going there. Another summit!
Translated by Pamela Gauvin
Last Saturday, several members of the team paid a second visit to Accueil Bonneau to help with a meal. I was privileged to be part of it.
Acceuil Bonneau isn't just about giving a meal to the homeless. Accueil Bonneau is the purest form of love, friendship and generosity.
We were given a visit round the premises when we arrived and the "little sister" who showed us round told us about its history. Highly organised, they provide clothes (already washed and ironed), haircuts, even help with the budget. It all goes like clockwork.
It's already a lot. But do you know what she said does the most good for the people who go there? It isn't so much the soup, the pair of socks or the haircut. It's the welcome, the smile and and the fact of just being noticed by someone.
I can vouch for that. My job at the meal on Saturday was to welcome them, collect their entrance tickets (handed out by another volunteer at the door) and give them a tray on which my colleagues could serve the meal. I was so impressed and touched by their pleasant manner and politeness. It was a cold day so they took the tray I handed them with cold hands but with a look, a smile and a thank you. Simple things, but I felt the pride behind them. And I too was proud because, for once, I looked beyond the itinerant at the corner of the street. I saw a human being like me, like everybody.
The sisters who run Accueil Bonneau thanked us for volunteering. It's funny, but I had the impression that we should have been the ones to say thank you. Thank you for allowing us to share in this exercise in love and friendship and for reminding us that a simple smile can be as warming as a plate of soup. A lesson in living to remember and to pass on. And thank you to the Kili 2012 project for giving me the excuse I needed for going there. Another summit!
Translated by Pamela Gauvin
Wednesday 16 November 2011
Organik or Hooked on Health
By Isabelle Privé
Occasionally, someone comes along who changes your life. Scott, the founding President of the Organik company is like that! I met this fascinating man last year when I attended what is called a Health Break at work. A health break is 10 minutes taken sometime in the day to stretch, ease the muscles, breath deeply and relax. After I'd experienced 10 minutes of Health Break and an immediate feeling of well-being, Scott convinced me easily that it's worthwhile chosing health. Since then, I never miss a chance to spend my afternoon break with him or one of his health team to breath, stretch, move, re-center and recharge my batteries.
Scott is a pro in health motivation. His belief in what he teaches is so strong that it's contagious..
He really practises what he preaches and that makes all the difference!
Like us, Scott has a mission: fight stress. Stress undermines the health of the majority of North Americans and enriches the pharmaceutical companies. How to fight it? By adopting healthy living habits, by breathing properly, exercising, eating well, drinking lots of water and getting a good night's sleep. Sounds simple, doesn't it? But, as Scott says, simple doesn't mean easy!
In the SCD, we are lucky enough to benefit from this experience 3 days a week. We also receive instruction and advice from a team of health specialists such as naturopath, nutritionist, physical trainer and even Yogi because Organik is also a dynamic, informed team who work synergistically and offer a whole range of health education adapted to the needs of the workplace.
When I told Scott about the Kilimanjaro project, he immediately offered to help us on our journey towards the top. The team was able to attend a conference called Health Redefined which outlined much the same process that we are following in order to meet our challenge. Whether it is individually or in a team, our project obliges us to redefine what we mean by health and how to improve it, live it and develop it every day. We have to get our minds and bodies ready for the challenge and, to do that, we must chose health.
It's a pleasure for us to be associated with Organik in promoting good health. Thank you to Scott and his team for supporting and accompanying us throughout the next 10 months on our journey to the top. Whether it's in changing eating habits, in stepping up our training sessions or in overcoming obstacles along the way, we need all the help Organik can give us.
Translated by Pamela Gauvin
Occasionally, someone comes along who changes your life. Scott, the founding President of the Organik company is like that! I met this fascinating man last year when I attended what is called a Health Break at work. A health break is 10 minutes taken sometime in the day to stretch, ease the muscles, breath deeply and relax. After I'd experienced 10 minutes of Health Break and an immediate feeling of well-being, Scott convinced me easily that it's worthwhile chosing health. Since then, I never miss a chance to spend my afternoon break with him or one of his health team to breath, stretch, move, re-center and recharge my batteries.
Scott is a pro in health motivation. His belief in what he teaches is so strong that it's contagious..
He really practises what he preaches and that makes all the difference!
Like us, Scott has a mission: fight stress. Stress undermines the health of the majority of North Americans and enriches the pharmaceutical companies. How to fight it? By adopting healthy living habits, by breathing properly, exercising, eating well, drinking lots of water and getting a good night's sleep. Sounds simple, doesn't it? But, as Scott says, simple doesn't mean easy!
In the SCD, we are lucky enough to benefit from this experience 3 days a week. We also receive instruction and advice from a team of health specialists such as naturopath, nutritionist, physical trainer and even Yogi because Organik is also a dynamic, informed team who work synergistically and offer a whole range of health education adapted to the needs of the workplace.
When I told Scott about the Kilimanjaro project, he immediately offered to help us on our journey towards the top. The team was able to attend a conference called Health Redefined which outlined much the same process that we are following in order to meet our challenge. Whether it is individually or in a team, our project obliges us to redefine what we mean by health and how to improve it, live it and develop it every day. We have to get our minds and bodies ready for the challenge and, to do that, we must chose health.
It's a pleasure for us to be associated with Organik in promoting good health. Thank you to Scott and his team for supporting and accompanying us throughout the next 10 months on our journey to the top. Whether it's in changing eating habits, in stepping up our training sessions or in overcoming obstacles along the way, we need all the help Organik can give us.
Translated by Pamela Gauvin
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