climbofhope.com

So much has happened in the last few weeks, leaving me in a bit of a tailspin. So allow me to explain it all in hope of getting the show back on the road.

On a positive note, the Climb of Hope expedition to Everest is still happening, just not when it was originally intended to.

Approximately 10 days before we were due to leave, a news report was issued saying that violence had broken out between Tibet protestors and Chinese armed forces. Several monasteries held peaceful protests in an effort to highlight Tibet’s effort to gain their independence. They were met with brutal military force and many monks were detained.

The unrest eventually led to China locking Tibet down to all outsiders including CNN News crew.

Russell Brice, our well respected Expedition Leader had no choice but to cancel the trip for 2008, but has retained all money paid to him and has guaranteed our places on his 2009 trip.

There were a few options available at this stage, but despite our efforts, they proved fruitless. The option to join an expedition from the South side was considered but later aborted. On the day the clients arrived in Kathmandu, China had still not issued permits to any climbing teams, which is obviously far from ideal.

Any teams that did make it onto the mountain, were not allowed to climb higher than Camp 1 until the end of April. China intent taking the Olympic torch to the summit of Everest and do not want any complications near the project. This would prove very problematic for climbers as they would not be able to acclimatise in preparation to summit. And the delay would create further difficulties, as it will be late in the season to summit, once the Chinese had been and gone.

So I have spent a lot of time rethinking and rearranging. I tried to arrange a place on an expedition to Mount McKinley in Alaska but it was too tight in terms of timimg and finalising additional funding.

The way forward
We now have 11 months to dust ourselves off and get back on the horse. Plans to create an even larger media strategy with exciting events and promotions.

One way to view this set back is to consider it as another 11 months to raise even more money for CANSA and get closer to the R1 Million goal…so watch this space!

I would like to thank everyone, including my sponsors for their patience and understanding throughout this rocky journey.

Please forward any advice suggestions and information to make sure these months leading to Everest 2009 are truly effective in reaching the goal of creating something life changing for many people. We are in the fortunate position to help those facing the hardship of cancer.

Robby Kojetin
Climb high for those who can’t.

News sources include:

www.cnn.com

www.mounteverest.net

www.everestnews.com

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030831.html

Click on the link above or copy and paste it into your browser. It is a wide angle 360? of the world from the summit of Everest. Note that the sky is blac, even during the day, due to the lack of air in the atmosphere to reflect light, giving the sky its blue colour.

As the time to take off draws nearer, I start to realise the immense proportion of this project and its far-reaching effect. With 24 sleeps left, I find myself looking, often with tired eyes, at what is left to be crossed off my list before I am cleared for take off. Although this list is unrelenting and tiresome, it is still over shadowed by what has been accomplished to date. It’s a good feeling as I realise how much has happened since I started typing the first proposals to sponsors.

But now as I wade a path from the bathroom to the bed, through a pile of mountain gear, I get the hint of a butterfly in my stomach as it dawns on me that in 3 1/2 weeks from now I will be walking the streets of Kathmandu, the monastery bells in my ears.

I saw this print advert in a presentation we did the other day.  It hit home, and I smiled.

On Saturday 16 February, I spoke at the CANSA Gala Dinner. The black tie event was nothing short of spectacular and the company made it an evening to remember. My speech was very well received and I was met with a standing ovation.

Not only this, but we sent an ice bucket around to business cards from people interested in sponsoring squares on the banner. I am pleased to say that 30 people have volunteered and several of which have committed to more than one block.

A massive thanks goes to Sue, Munnik, Lionel and everyone who make the lives of those less fortnuate than us a little better.

I also went to Drifters on Sunday to pick up some more of my climbing gear. The boys there are always fun to chat to and I must say that Matt is running the place well. Thanks to you guys for putting up me and sorting everything out quickly.

This weekend John Black went to Australia to climb Kosciusko, the highest mountain in Oz. He summitted on Saturday after a grueling 90 minute walk in the heat of the day, John made his 4th of the Seven Summits. Although Carstensz Pyramid is the highest mountain in Australasia, it is really difficult to access due to political reasons, so a lot of climbers climb Kosciusko in Oz as the 7th summit. John will be climbing Carstenz (Indonesia) at a later stage, when access issues are resolved. So well done John!

Lastly, I would like to remind everyone who has not finalised their spaces on the banner to do so soon. I will be leaving in just over 5 weeks and I would like to try finalise as much as possible before I go.

It’s 39 sleeps to go and the butterflies are starting to really kick in now. My house looks like an Eskimo Factory shop with gear everywhere, but as the time grows closer, i am starting to realise that it is all worthwhile.

Please email questions you have regarding this trip as I want this to be as interesting as possible.

“Upward, and forever upward” - George Mallory

Robby

Climb high for those who can’t.

In the Daily News on Friday in conjunction with the CANSA Shavathon. A raging success country wide.

daily-news.pdf