Local women Deb Warren and Jenny Croaker have set themselves a challenge that most of us would get tired just thinking about! The girls will be trekking up Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, at 5895 metres above sea level, in November to raise $30,000 for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.
Both women will tell you they are a little daunted by the journey they have in front of them, however for Deb Warren the challenge is far greater than just putting one foot in front of the other and scaling Africa’s highest mountain. Deb is blind and will have to muster every ounce of determination and guts to achieve her goal.
Deb has been a client of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT for over 20 years and, along with Jenny, who is an Orientation and Mobility Instructor for Guide Dogs, they both want to give something back to an organisation that gives so much to vision impaired people.
“I blame Jen for this,” joked Deb.
“Jen put her name down for the trek that was planned for Guide Dogs and then she came to see me for some GPS training.
“We discussed the trek to Mt Kilimanjaro and I thought that sounded great. I had no idea where Mt Kilimanjaro was and, because it was for Guide Dogs, I didn’t really look into it as much as I probably should have. I just wanted to give something back to an organisation that has given me so much.”
Training has begun for the girls who are walking most mornings and getting used to the cold conditions that they will be walking in during the trek.
“I am also using a cross trainer with my pack and gradually increasing the weight,” said Deb.
Deb is no stranger to getting herself fit, having completed an 800km bike ride for another organisation a few years ago.
“I am a little nervous about how fit I will have to be, as they have requested that we have a five out of five fitness, which is peak fitness.
“At the moment there is a lot of work ahead for me; this is probably the least fit I have been for a number of years, so this is another motivation.”
Deb is expecting the trek itself to take a third longer for her to do than for her fellow trekkers, who will average about six hours a day of walking. However, for Deb this will be more like nine or ten hours.
“This means that I will need to be that bit extra physically and mentally fit, especially as I will be more tired than the others,” said Deb.
The trek will take the seven-day Rongai route up Kilimanjaro which is roughly 200kms. It will cover a variety of terrains and differing climates from open grasslands and 25 degrees at the beginning of the trek to higher, colder altitudes where snow and ice and altitude sickness will need to be managed.
The girls have been busily fundraising and coming up is a Christmas in July Ball on July 28 at the Armidale Bowling Club. Tickets are $75 and are available from the Bowling Club. Tables of 10 will be available and the girls are encouraging everyone to get their friends together for what will be a fun night for a great cause. There are also model guide dogs in businesses around town where people can donate money. You can also catch the girls at the monthly markets in the mall.
“People have been really generous and it has been amazing how much money has been donated through the model dogs,” said Jenny.
“This is a long process and I guess this is why they call it a challenge.
“I haven’t done anything like this before and am really looking forward to seeing the animals in Africa, making it to the top and giving Deb a hug and lastly, seeing the puppies that we are able to purchase for Guide Dogs with the money that we raise.”
Story: Jo Harrison
