Coming soon

Sorry my fellow friends.  Our official translator is gone fishing for a few days.  But she will be back soon and the translation of this blog will go on.

Thank you for your patience.

Your Resident Reporter is Back

By André Lachapelle



Hi to all our faithful readers.

Your resident reporter, André Lachapelle, is back.

As you know, Team Kili-2012 is leaving in a few days for the grand adventure. And it'll be my job to let you know where they are and how they're getting on.

I'll try to be as objective a journalist as possible but it won't be easy. You may know that I was supposed to be with them but life decided otherwise and I had to withdraw. I still hope to go one day.

So, how will the news get to you?

I'll be able to communicate with the team by satellite phone and put up-to-date news on the blog.

So don't go too far away, find a comfortable chair, some chips or ... broccoli and, with me, live vicariously.

One thing's obvious - all the team members are in a state of nervous excitement. Not stressed out exactly but on edge, to say the least. All those who are with them during these last few days can feel it.

Checking the luggage for the nth time to be sure they've forgotten nothing - frankly, we're all a bit fed up with hearing about it all the time....

But I understand -  you wouldn't want arrive at the foot of the highest mountain in Africa and discover that you'd left your hiking boots in Montreal. Laugh if you want but you know as well as I do that it can happen so easily.

So, no question of leaving you in the dark for three whole weeks.
I promise to be a faithful and regular reporter, bringing you news of the expedition nearly every day.

A final note: the French blog has been visited over 9000 times since it was started, with people as far away as Argentina consulting it. The English blog has had more than 700 visitors. And that's the truth!

So, on Monday, Labour Day, send an e-mail to all your family, friends, acquaintances and colleagues and ask them to pass the message on and to visit the blog regularly. 9000 visits? We can double that number by the time our adventurers are home again.


Translated by Pamela Gauvin

Goodbye For Now, Dear Friends!

By Isabelle Privé


Our goodbyes started on Thursday with a 5 to 7 (4 to 6, actually) at the office. We wanted to thank all those who had encouraged us throughout our 18 months of preparation, all those who had helped us in various ways: help with training, financial support, project promotion, moral support and all sorts of practical help. They have all made our adventure so much easier and satisfying.

We were surprised and touched by the number of people who came to encourage us and to tell us how proud they were of us, how proud of all we've accomplished leading up to the great day.
The evening was full of emotion - joy, pride and nervous excitement. Even a few tears!

It really warmed our hearts to realize that everyone is behind us and will be thinking of us throughout the adventure. We'll be uplifted by their support throughout the difficult moments ahead.

Today, the last day of work, the feeling continued. What a day! Full of encouraging words, signs of affection and even of admiration from our colleagues.

We were touched to see how much our accomplishments were noticed and how much they have touched others. Whether it was for our voluntary work, our fund-raising efforts or our training, we received recognition from those who had noticed and been moved.

My heart was full of joy at the end of the day. Our adventure gives us some really wonderful moments.

Thanks to the Desjardins family for your support, your kindness and your affection. We'll carry all this marvellous energy with us in our luggage - there's still a little room left!

Till we meet again...........

Translated by Pamela Gauvin