We made it....just

11 intrepid climbers set out for the summit of Kilimanjaro - Africa's highest mountain - on the 8th November. As altitude sickness and other medical problems assaulted the team, we pressed on, leaving the casualties dotted like confetti on the side of the mountain! Just before midnight on Friday the survivors pressed on for the final ascent. At around 6 am on 11.11.11, as dawn broke over the African horizon, 6 climbers reached the summit at Gilman's Point.
The slowest 'summiteer' was so far behind the others that the first summiteers were starting their descent when he arrived at the top. So the planned 'aren't-we-clever-to-all-get-to-the-top-at-the-same-time' photo never materialised. The attached photo is as good as it gets!!
It was a HUGE CHALLENGE - taking everyone so far out of their comfort zone that there was weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth(and that was just the men!).
Congratulations to all who made it and those that nearly did. Thank you to everyone who sponsored us!!

Oh my bags are packed and I am ready to go...

Three team members are already in Africa.The other 8 are just panicking about how they will fit all their cold-weather gear into their bags. The BIG ADVENTURE starts on Saturday with visits to the Sunshine Home and Church on the Rock School. After a 24 hour safari we put on our climbing boots and start the 19,340 foot ascent to the summit.
Please encourage us by sponsoring us!!

Chocolate bought, bags packed...

Just over a week to go before we set of for this magnificent adventure. In 15 days time, we will be standing on the summit of Africa's highest mountain, with a view stretching 200 miles in all directions!
Thank you to everyone who has sponsored the climb so far. Our fund-raising is still at 'base-camp' so please help us to reach the 'summit' - £111,111 to help care for Kenya's street kids and orphans.
Visit our Team page and select a team member to sponsor!

PS - We've got the most important item - our 11.11.11 Challenge T shirts!

Countdown to 11.11.11

Only 30 days to go before we stand at the summit of Mt Kilmanjaro and watch the sun rise over the plains of Africa.
The team is training hard - running and walking and taking the stairs instead of the escalators!
Simon Kinyanjui and Alison Kirby-Smith (who are in Kenya) have done a practice climb up Mt Longonot - a dormant volcano in the Rift Valley.
Our fund-raising is still in the 'foothills' so visit the 11.11.11 Challenge website and sponsor a team member!

Kenya fuel explosion - update

We have now heard from Bernard and Ruth who told us that, although the fuel explosion was close to them and the school, they and the children are all safe.

Nairobi slum blast kills 100

The Nairobi fuel explosion widely reported in the world's media has occurred within a few hundred metres of the Church on the Rock School that Footsteps supports.
We have been unable to make contact with Beernard and Ruth Ndetei as we are unable to establish mobile phone contact with them at present.
Please pray that they and the children at the school are safe and remember those that are injured and who have been bereaved in the tragedy.

East Africa drought pushes up food prices

The drought affecting the eatern horn of Africa is affecting the price of basic foodstuffs throughout Kenya.

Sunshine Home project director Simon KInyanjui reports:
"We thank God for the rains over the past few days, but the cost of food has shot up due to inflation. We are buying food at more than double what we had budgeted."

Please remember all those who are facing real hardship at this difficult time.