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 Lorraine Barker
"I first heard about Ascent several years ago," says Vancouver resident Lorraine Barker. "But last year, my friend Roslyn Kunin mentioned she was considering joining this year's Ascent for Alzheimer's team which really brought it back to my attention."
Lorraine, who is a single parent and is a self-employed Chartered Accountant, says her friend's timing was perfect. "I had just decided that my children were old enough to allow me the time to return to community volunteerism."
Lorraine, 54, hasn't been directly affected by dementia but has a number of friends, clients and associates whose families have been deeply affected by Alzheimer's. "These families are truly heroic, not only with the time and care they expend, but with the ongoing respect they continue to have for their loved ones," she observes.
Participating in Ascent has also created a focus for her personal goals. "When I first signed up, I'd just started a fitness program and Ascent was a great goal - a functional reason for me to get, and stay, fit. I feel stronger and fitter than I have ever been in my life."
Lorraine encourages other people to consider joining future Ascents. "The most rewarding part of my involvement is my ability to give time and not just money to a very needy cause."
 Jim Hoggan and Enid Marion
One in four Canadians has one person in their family who has dementia - Jim Hoggan and his wife Enid Marion have two.
"My mother has dementia, and Jim's mother has Alzheimer's," says Enid, a lawyer at Harris & Co. in Vancouver.
 They first heard about Ascent for Alzheimer's when Jim's public relations agency (James Hoggan and Associates) helped promote both the climb and the Alzheimer Society of B.C. in 1999, when Gordon Campbell and his family participated.
Jim is now on the Society's Board of Directors, and he and his wife Enid, both in their 50s, are set to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Jim says they're both committed to raise funds and awareness for the Society. "After watching the effects of the illness on both of our mothers and family members, we want to support the Society's efforts to address the debilitating effects of the disease."
 Judy Huska
Judy Huska was first drawn into Ascent for Alzheimer's by Dorrie Ferster, a previous Ascent participant.
"I was at a long-term care workshop a couple of years ago and saw a slide presentation by Dorrie," says the 52-year-old Quesnel resident. "I was really impressed by the presentation, and thought that it was something I would like to do, too. The presentation was really inspiring."
As someone who works in residential acute and home care as a nurse manager, Judy has seen first hand the impact dementia can have on individuals, families and caregivers.
She also has an aunt who has Alzheimer's, and has seen the affects of the disease on the members of her own family. "Over the years, my aunt inspired me to travel, hike, canoe - I know that, if she could, she would wholeheartedly support my efforts!"
 Roslyn Kunin
A woman whose talents and community service have been recognized at home in Vancouver and across the country, Dr. Roslyn Kunin joined this year's Ascent for Alzheimer's team after hearing about previous climbs through the media.
"Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is such a challenge," says the 2002 Order of Canada recipient, an economist who received the degree of Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Victoria. "By reaching the summit, I hope to be an inspiration to myself and to others - to make a difference for those who can't themselves."
"Alzheimer's is a devastating disease, and I want to do what I can to fight it," says the 62-year-old. "That's why I'm raising money for Ascent, to further the search for a cure and to help those who deal with this disease every day."
 Joanie McEwen
When Joanie McEwan heard about Ascent for Alzheimer's from friends Jim Hoggan and Enid Marion, she knew she had to go with them.
"Both Jim and Enid have family who are affected by dementia, and I have many other friends and their relatives who have been impacted by this disease," says the self-employed labour arbitrator from Vancouver.
Joanie says she loves high adventure as well as Africa, and is thrilled to be participating in Ascent. "It's an opportunity to raise awareness and funds to support the services and programs of the Alzheimer Society of B.C. and for research into the disease.
"The people at the Alzheimer Society of B.C. are incredibly dedicated," she says. "I hope this climb will raise people's awareness of this very good and committed organization."
 Claude Rinfret
Claude Rinfret, a partner with Deloitte & Touche in Vancouver, had heard about Ascent for Alzheimer's before but never thought he'd one day be on his own way to trek to the roof of Africa.
But when he joined the Alzheimer Society of B.C.'s board of directors last year and was asked whether he would like to join several other directors hoping to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, it was an easy decision for him to make.
"We need to do what we can to help identify the reasons why people get Alzheimer's, and hopefully one day find a cure," he says. "I have two relatives who have different forms of dementia - one who has Alzheimer's, and one who has dementia from having multiple strokes."
Until we have a cure, Claude believes we need to focus on helping those affected by dementia. "We need to help those with the disease, and those family and friends who have loved ones with the disease, to better understand what is happening to them, and how best to deal with it."
 Kate Sladen
Kate Sladen is about to give herself the birthday gift of a lifetime, having just recently celebrated her 65th birthday. "There's significance for me that I'm doing this at 65… One in 13 people over the age of 65 will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's."
Kate first heard about Ascent for Alzheimer's when Gordon Campbell and his family participated in 1999. When she saw a presentation by past participant Kelly Abbott of Kelowna earlier this year, she knew it was something she had to do.
The Okanagan native has taught student caregivers how to care for those with dementia and provided care as a nurse for the past 15 years. "I cared for my mom in my home during the last two years of her life," she adds about her mother, who also had dementia.
"I see this as an opportunity to help raise funds for research and education," she says. "I am concerned about the amount of support that will be needed for our aging population."
Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is one way to make a difference. "I am simply committed to doing what I can."
 Elaine Wright and her son, Cameron
"I want to show people who feel they have limitations that doors aren't closed - that there are support networks and people who can help," says Elaine Wright of Vancouver.
 Elaine was diagnosed several years ago with Alzheimer's disease at the age of 47. Now she's on the Alzheimer Society of B.C.'s Board of Directors and, as half of a mother-son team, she's in training to be the first known person with Alzheimer's disease to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
Elaine's mother also has Alzheimer's disease, so her 16-year-old son Cameron - who is also participating in this year's Ascent - is climbing for two women in his life.
"I want to support people with the disease, like my mom and grandma," he says. "But it's also important to me to raise the funds to search for a cure…to further the dream that one day there will be a cure."
"There's a stigma surrounding dementia that makes some people think that climbing a mountain is literally beyond reach," says Elaine. "I want to challenge and reverse that belief, to prove that a person with dementia can do it."
 Nicole Bertrand and Hubert Allaire
When Nicole Bertrand joined the Alzheimer Society of B.C.'s Board of Directors, neither she nor her husband, Hubert Allaire would have believed that just two years later they'd be getting ready to face the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for the organization.
 "When I first heard about it, I thought it was a tremendous idea," says Nicole, 52, who has also signed up a number of her Royal Bank co-workers for the challenge. "My mother had Alzheimer's disease when she passed away, and I really want to do what I can to help those affected by the disease."
Both Nicole and Hubert see Ascent for Alzheimer's not just as a way to give back to the community, but also to learn more about themselves.
"Trekking up Mount Kilimanjaro is a demanding physical challenge," says Hubert, also 52, who works in technical sales for Deane & Co. "I want to test myself - prove that I can go beyond my limits."
 Mike Brown
Mike Brown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, read about Ascent for Alzheimer's in his local paper. His decision to sign up wasn't too far behind.
"I'm a nurse with many years experience in geriatric care," he says. "I've seen the devastation that Alzheimer's can cause, and I want to do what I can to stop it."
Mike hopes his efforts will encourage others to consider what they can accomplish.
"I want to encourage others to step out and challenge themselves! I think Ascent is a great way to have fun and do good for ourselves. We should all try to do things that will benefit us all."
 Chris and Johanna Oosthuizen
"Most people, at some point in their life, have a mountain to climb," says 37-year old Chris Oosthuizen, who along with his wife Johanna, 35, is part of the Royal Bank team participating in this year's Ascent for Alzheimer's .
"This mountain can come in many shapes or forms," adds the Vancouver resident, Manager, Investment Brokerage with RBC Dominion Securities. "People that have to deal with Alzheimer's are very familiar with the many challenges that they have to face as they climb their own mountains."
Chris and Johanna are originally from South Africa, and have always had a love for the African continent. Going to the roof of Africa has been a life-long dream.
"Participating in Ascent with the Alzheimer Society of B.C. gives this trip back 'home' special meaning," says Johanna.
"We choose to do this in honour of all the many people that are affected by Alzheimer's every day… a mountain that they would not have chosen if they'd had a choice."
 Suzanne and Michael Rutherford
Suzanne Rutherford, an executive with RBC Financial Group, and her husband Michael are both part of the Royal Bank team climbing Mount Kilimanjaro as part of Ascent for Alzheimer's.
 "There are so many reasons why we have decided to take on this adventure," says Michael. "First and foremost, it is to increase awareness for this terrible disease. We hope that our fundraising efforts will help those who are living with dementia, and we strongly hope that with continued funding a cure will be found."
While Suzanne and Michael say that climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is a personal goal tied into the values they hold about sharing and helping others, they also appreciate the friendships that have formed. "When we first started training, our team members were just colleagues going on a first-time journey together," says Suzanne. "Now we are close friends."
"The preparation and the climb itself are symbolic of so many things that are important in life: family, friends, health and charity," Suzanne adds. "The meaningful things take hard work, commitment, determination and passion."
The Ascent guides
 Sue Oakey, Dr. Sean Cruz, and Dr. Virginia Robinson
The first Ascent for Alzheimer's team reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in 1998 led by well-known mountaineer and guide Jim Haberl and his assistant guide and wife Sue Oakey. Jim has since passed away, but in his spirit Sue has gone on to guide seven teams - more than 70 people - to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa and Gokyo-Ri in Nepal.
Sue is also connected to the cause on another front. "My grandfather died of Alzheimer's disease," she says. "The last time I saw him, he didn't recognize me."
A world-renowned guide in her own right, Sue has climbed, skied and mountaineered all over the world, has been guiding in the mountains for eight years, owns North Star Adventures in Whistler and teaches for an outdoor education program in Vancouver.
 Sue's experience and enthusiasm are supported this year by Dr. Sean Cruz and Dr. Virginia Robinson. Dr. Cruz, who joins Team 1 for Ascent, is a practicing physician in Victoria and has experience as a high-altitude climber, including the summit of Mount Rainier, volcanoes in South America and trekking in Nepal. He is the proud father of little Anna and a loving husband to his wife Andrea.
Dr. Virginia Robinson, who joins Team 2, is an emergency physician in Fernie. She has climbed Mount Aconcagua, to Camp Three on Everest (when she was the team physician for Byron Scott's expedition) and various high altitude peaks in India.
Documentary filmmaker
 Michael Dalton-Smith
"The average person may not remember every small details, but when we do something extraordinary, we remember it for a lifetime," writes Michael Dalton-Smith, a documentary filmmaker from Toronto who will join the first Ascent for Alzheimer's team and film the documentary Remembering Kilimanjaro.
"Although I have been fortunate not to have a family member affected by Alzheimer's, I do know what it is like to watch someone close to you deteriorate mentally from a destructive disease."
For Michael, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro will be much more than a hike; it also means running back and forth to get the right shots to use in the documentary. But he's been working hard to be prepared.
"My work-out consists of three to four 10km runs with hills - Toronto hills, though - and three days at the gym a week for two hours…I have also been loading my backpack with 25 lbs when I go out for walks to get used to the weight we'll have to carry."
Michael's documentary will show how the team member are united for a cause and have supported each other throughout the adventure, but it will also focus in part on Elaine Wright's story.
"Film is a powerful tool to tell someone's story. I think personal triumphs can be inspirational to all in many ways," he says. "I hope that viewers who watch Remembering Kilimanjaro will be inspired by Elaine's story, and perhaps encourage themselves to do something."
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