Live a life that matters…Live a life of love.

It has been really hard for me to get my thoughts on paper, I have been in a whirlwind of turmoil and confusion. Why are there all these hateful people in the world? They have taken so many innocent lives.

Two things happened today that quite frankly were a well deserved slap in the face, wake up call to get up, get out of my pity party and get my mission accomplished. On my run today I felt this incredible feeling of guilt, also thankfulness.  I have Parkinson’s, yes..it sucks however, it is not a death sentence. Once again I saw those 49 faces, I cannot imagine the fear they felt as they lost their lives to a hateful person.  I should feel ashamed every time my life gets disrupted with Parkinson’s symptoms …..here I was out running and enjoying life. Later on today I logged onto my email and overjoyed to see a message from Freddie, my friend, my guide, my life saver who step by step, side by side encouraged me up Kilimanjaro in 2015. He will be with me again February 2017 as Team Climb.4.49 take the memory of 49 to the top of the highest freestanding mountain in the world…Kilimanjaro. Unlike their last fearful moments this journey will be peaceful, they will be above the clouds in peace looking down and leaving all hatred and fear. I cannot wake up every morning if I am not doing something to bring awareness to the memory of 49 lives lost.

So today starts my journey.  Join me, along the way you will meet so many wonderful people who keep me focused, physically ready and mentally ready for the climb. You will also get to meet Team Climb.4.49...Kevin, Shawn and Jordan. You will get to know Bronwyn, Matthew, Earl and myself who will climb with the 49. Then of course we could not do this without the incredible Embark Expeditions and Adventures.  Donovan and his team leave no detail unturned.

I would like to send my sympathies and thoughts to the family of Gugu Zulu. A race car driver and fellow South African who lost his life on Kilimanjaro last Monday 7/18/16.  “Gugu, I will take you with me in Febuary”.