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Kilimanjaro 2007
Participant bios
Additional introductions to this year’s participants will be posted soon, so check back!
Don Bulmer
Vancouver B.C.
Sometimes it takes the convergence of "right place right time" to set out to accomplish a challenging task. So it was for Don Bulmer.
Having turned 40 last year – and with a little extra time, having wrapped up a volunteer position on the board of the Scotia Dance Centre – Don found himself with the time to do something to help Alzheimer's patients. Don's grandmother died at the age of 56 from complications related to Alzheimer's.
"It has always been a personal mandate to give back to the community," said Don, an investment advisor at ScotiaMcLeod. Since committing to the Ascent for Alzheimer’s team, he's found that his clients are very supportive; one of Don’s clients, Webber Naturals, has even come on board as the event’s presenting sponsor.
"It's amazing how community oriented most people are," he said. "A couple of coworkers expressed interest in coming with me if they could get the time off."
Don has set a personal goal of raising $75,000, and he'll have some help through the Scotia Match program.
"My company thinks it's wonderful for the employees get involved in community in any way," he said. "They will match $5,000, if I raise $5,000."
An active outdoorsman, Don participates in numerous strenuous sports, including skiing, squash and marathon running. His hill training is getting underway with the warmer weather.
"I have climbed many local mountains and run several marathons, but nothing like this," said Don. "Mentally I think it’s similar to a marathon - if you stick to your goal, you will finish."
Don's wife and 12-year-old daughter are very supportive of what he's doing, and he says it fits in well with his values.
"Some of the most rewarding work I’ve done over the years has been around charitable gift planning for my clients," he said. "I always consider it an honour to assist a client with their philanthropic goals."
Click here to make a donation to support Don. Please ensure you select "Ascent for Alzheimer's" and note his name in the "Message to charity" section.
Ariela Friedmann, Lori Last, Sandy Turner
Vancouver B.C.
Ariela Friedmann, Lori Last, and Sandy “Ms. T-I-pity-the-fool” Turner are the A Team (if you don’t get the reference to the 1980s TV show, then don’t worry about it!).
But this A Team is truly all about Ascent.
One night, the three Vancouver friends were talking about life over a bottle or two of heart-healthy red wine, and the deal was sealed: to participate in Ascent for Alzheimer’s.
Each has their own motivation to participate:
“As someone who worked for the Alzheimer Society in the past (former Senior Manager of Communications), I was motivated by the passion of other participants. It is their energy that inspired me to walk the talk, and live the vision,” says Ariela, 41, who now leads communications for the BC Safety Authority. “I also know how important it is to support the Alzheimer Society, because I know what a difference the funds raised make in the lives of people impacted by this disease.”
For Lori, Communications Manager at Provincial Health Services Authority, it’s far more personal. Her mother Agnes was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s four years ago, and has just entered a long-term care facility. Her mother’s brother was also diagnosed in 2005.
“I am doing this to honour the many people who have this disease or who are caring for someone with this disease. It is for them, as much as for me, that I'm going,” says Lori, 38. “Losing a loved one is always hard. Losing them bit-by-bit and day-by-day to a disease like Alzheimer's is devastating. I’m hoping that together, we can create a world without Alzheimer's.”
Sandy, 45, Divisional Systems Access Administrator at WorkSafeBC, also has a close family tie – she lost her beloved Nanny Nellie to Alzheimer's disease.
“I watched my grandmother forget her family, forget who she was, forget me…it was hard, so very hard on everyone. I am climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in her honour, and raising funds for the Alzheimer Society of B.C. in the hopes that no one will have to watch their grandmother’s life (or any family member) end like this. I want to make a difference!”
The A Team is truly working as a team, fundraising both individually as well as organizing a few combined fundraising efforts. “We’re in this together!” they say. And while on the mountain, cheering on the A Team will be workmates, family and friends from coast-to-coast.
To support one of these participants, please click on their name to go to their fundraising page, and follow the instructions as noted: Ariela Friedmann, Lori Last, Sandy Turner.
Laura Gosset and Don Searle
Kelowna B.C.
Faced with a challenge she found "difficult to ignore" is how Laura Gosset, a real estate lawyer, describes feeling the first time she heard about Ascent for Alzheimer's. It was several years ago, through friend and fellow lawyer Pat Haberl, whose brother Jim guided the first Kilimanjaro Ascent in 1998.
"Since he first described the climb, it has been stuck in the back of my mind as something I must do," says Laura, 51. "My own father was afflicted with dementia prior to his death nine years ago, so this is a cause that is close to my heart."
Initially, Laura's mother wasn't too keen about her doing Ascent by herself, so Laura convinced her husband Don, a real estate developer, to join her.
"I can be very persuasive, which is a characteristic I trust will come in very handy in my fundraising efforts," says Laura. "Now Mom is very supportive and has in fact given us both generous donations."
Don, who's an avid traveler and hiker, was quick to say yes.
"After seeing photographs and learning all the details, I too wanted to become part of this incredible adventure," says Don, 56. "I love hiking and adventure travel, so I don't think my friends were very surprised that I would consider climbing Kilimanjaro."
Laura and Don have a bit of a jump on this challenge; they’re both avid outdoor adventurers, and have hiked in the Rockies and the Andes, including doing some hikes at higher altitudes. They've also participated in the Ironman Canada Triathlon, completing five triathlons between them since 2001.
The husband and wife team, who have raised close to 75% of their target $20,000, hope their participation in the Ascent will contribute to understanding and treatment of the disease.
"I have family members and parents of close friends who have been impacted by this dreadful disease," says Laura. “I hope my participating will increase awareness and understanding and perhaps make at least a small difference to people and families affected by Alzheimer's and related dementias."
Click here to make a donation to support Laura or Don. Please ensure you select "Ascent for Alzheimer's" and note their full names in the "Message to charity" section.
Judy Policansky
Vancouver B.C.
When Judy Policansky's father developed Alzheimer's in the mid-1990s, she was deeply affected by it.
"I saw the deterioration, the loss of independence and the devastation that this disease wreaks – not only on the patient, but on the family," she says. It was while her father was ill that Judy, who is in her 50s, first heard about the Ascent for Alzheimer's at a fair about aging awareness. She heard about it again a few times after her father died.
"The Ascent for Alzheimer's kept revisiting me," says Judy, a project manager with HSBC. "It seemed the universe was yelling at me louder and louder, and I felt I could no longer ignore or avoid listening to the voice that said I MUST do this.
"So, it's on behalf of my father – some of whose ashes will be making the ascent with me – that I'm doing this climb. With the staggering statistic of 1 in 4 families that will be associated with this disease, I feel responsible to bring awareness and raise funds to help eradicate or at the very least mitigate the affects of this ravaging and devastating disease."
Judy's far from home, with a sister living in Australia. But around her, Judy's co-workers and friends have all been very supportive of her decision. "It's all been positive," she says. "Anyone I mention it too says, 'What? Wow! That's fantastic!'"
Although she's never done anything similar in terms of mountain-climbing, Judy is no stranger to strenuous physical accomplishments.
"That's easier for me - training and being fit," says Judy, who has been increasing her running and weight training. "It's the least of my problems. It doesn't mean I'm going to fly up the mountain with no problems, though; the altitude can still get me."
Though she admits she might run into a few physical hurdles, she has participated in triathlons and she knows what it takes to work through physical hardship and not give up.
Click here to make a donation to support Judy. Please ensure you select "Ascent for Alzheimer's" and note her name in the "Message to charity" section.
Arlene Rees
Victoria B.C.
Since she was a small girl, Arlene Rees of Victoria has dreamed of adventure. She’s nurtured those dreams while pursuing her passions as a photographer, poet, wilderness explorer and scuba diver.
Last year, while serving as a director of child, youth and family programs in a social service agency, Arlene began planning to explore the Amazon. Yet in a poignant turn of events, her mother – who has Alzheimer’s disease – experienced an accelerated decline in her condition.
To find more information and resources for both herself and her father, her mother’s sole caregiver, she visited the Alzheimer Society of B.C.’s Website. She quickly discovered that destiny seemed to have other plans for her – beckoning not to her dreams of the Amazon, but to an ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro!
“Witnessing my mother’s decline and the impact the resulting stress has had on my father’s health, I feel very passionate about participating in the 2007 Ascent,” says the 54 year-old. “As soon as I read about the ascent on the Society’s Website, I knew that I was destined to go.”
Arlene explains that she’s had the privilege of seeing and experiencing firsthand the enormous dedication and compassion of the healthcare providers who work with those who have dementia.
“Ascent is a journey, and any personal challenges I may experience in summiting Mount Kilimanjaro can only pale in comparison to the monumental challenges faced by those individuals and families – and by extension, entire communities themselves – impacted by this disease.”
Arlene dedicates her journey to everyone – to raising collective awareness of the disease, as well as raising financial support to further the Society’s programs and services.
Click here to donate to Arlene! Please ensure you select "Ascent for Alzheimer's" and note Arlene's name in the "Message to charity" section.
Lorena and Stacy Townsend
Calgary AB and Vancouver B.C.
Those who know Stacy Townsend describe her as a person of action. When she was first told about Ascent for Alzheimer's last summer, she immediately knew this was something she had to do. Her dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's eight years ago and moved into a care facility just weeks before she found out about this climb opportunity.
"I wanted to take make a difference," says the 37-year-old Vancouver-based professional coach. "I need to know I am doing something meaningful for my dad and all the others impacted by this debilitating disease."
Stacy found a ready partner when she asked her sister Lorena Townsend, an avid hiker and lover of new adventures, to join her. "We said, 'Let's do it!' and we've been unstoppable ever since."
"I am participating because I want to make a contribution towards research, support services, education and awareness," says Lorena, 40, who lives in Calgary. "My dad was diagnosed more than eight years ago and I have stood by and watched helplessly as he slips further away from us. I don't want to feel helpless," she says. I want to feel hopeful!"
Both sisters have received tremendous support from family and colleagues.
"Lots of people are completely blown-away by the idea," says Lorena. "My mom thinks it is fantastic that her girls are embarking on this life-changing journey together, especially because we are doing it for our dad."
Lorena is planning at least one large fund-raiser at a local sports bar in Calgary, complete with prizes and silent auction items. She's also getting financial support from her company, Mark's Work Wearhouse, which has an employee donation matching policy. She also hopes to give people at her office the opportunity to sign a flag that she will take to the summit.
Stacy is currently planning two major fund-raising events in Vancouver, and one of her clients, Golder Associates, is sending a banner through their offices across Canada that employees can sign by donation. Sun Life financial is another great supporter who will be doing the same.
"I want to raise awareness of how many people are impacted by Alzheimer's and raise a mountain of funds for research and support for families," says Stacy. "Most importantly, I aim to be an inspiration, causing hope and creating a contagious excitement for creating a future without this disease."
For more information about Lorena or Stacy, or to support them in their climb, visit their Website.
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