On June 12, 2016 we lost you to this world, however, we will NEVER FORGET YOU!
On February 4, 2017 your memory will start the peaceful climb to the 19,348 ft summit of the highest freestanding mountain in the world…. Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa.
Your Team: “Climb.4.49 – Orlando Never Forget”
Embark Expedition Team: Portland, OR and Moshi, Tanzania
Climbers: Margaret (Margie), Bronwyn, Matthew and Earl
Kevin Twedt: Event Marketing
Shawn Layton: FB/Event Administrator and PIT Coordinator
Jordan Sun: Blog Manager
A few weeks ago I had mentioned to a very good friend that I felt I was not ready physically for my climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro scheduled for July 11, 2016. You see, I have Parkinson’s Disease and lately have felt my muscle strength and endurance, based on my Mother’s Day climb up Mt. St. Helens, was less than my peak performance for an altitude climb of 19,348 ft and 8 day climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Anyway, fate has her way!!!! Personal life changes, family illness and then the hateful, violent loss of 49 young, vibrant lives were taken. For me, time stood still….. this was done out of hate, life was taken away from young people who had love, meaning and the rest of their life ahead of them.
Of course, I did not feel ready for Kilimanjaro…. there was no meaning for the climb. It was not about not being physically ready, hell, my doctors had just told me I was a poster child for other 62yr old with Parkinson’s. I was fortunate that I still had a life to change. However, family first, I did not feel good leaving a family illness. Truth be told, I was not ready because fate had not played the next card in my life change yet…….
Restless nights are productive. I was anxious for daylight to break so I could share an idea, my purpose for the climb.
I called up Bronwyn and Matthew (daughter and son) and told them that our July climb would be postponed until February 4, 2017. Our purpose: to take the memory of 49 lives on a peaceful climb to the summit of the tallest freestanding mountain in the world….. Mt. Kilimanjaro. Then again in 2018, we will take the memory of the 49 to Nepal. Orlando will never forget and we have many mountains to climb, together.
Early Sunday morning I called Kevin who I knew was already working on finding a purpose for something that there was no resolve for. Kevin and Shawn both jumped in with passion, creativity and with a resounding “we will never allow the 49 to be forgotten”!
My name is Margaret, I prefer Margie if you pronounce it right. I am 62 years old. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease 4 years ago. I climb because I can, I do not allow PD to have control. I climb for a purpose, I Climb.4.49.
I know that if you follow our posts that you will enjoy the adventure of this team’s life journey and how we, and you, will keep #OrlandoStrong. This team will be honest and vulnerable, we will post in no fashion of order or agenda….. it will be organic, free, humble, passionate, emotional, truthful and with one purpose…. that is to Never Forget the 49! I hope, and my vision is, that this blog becomes a story not only from this team but from you, the readers, who will organically also become the team.
Please Share The Adventures of MAK: http://www.foxyladyversuskilimanjaro.com
Visit Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/Climb.4.49/
#Climb449 #OrlandoNeverForget #OrlandoUnited #WeAreOne #OnePulse