Video recap of Climb Kili 2022!

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

⁃ African Proverb

We love this African proverb and believe it captures the heart of Ubora and our recent Climb Kili event…to go far, together, with our friends in Tanzania.

Thank you to everyone who invested your precious time and energy to participate in the event. And to all those who volunteered, sponsored, prayed, recruited friends and donors to make Climb Kili 2022 a success—asante sana (thank you in Swahili)! Here’s a full recap of this year’s event…

The beautiful widows of Karansi, Tanzania.

The Mission

For over 20 years, a Tanzanian community in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro and an American community from metro Atlanta, have been on a journey of faith, hope and love together— led by the nonprofit UboraTZ.

“The challenges our brothers and sisters face in Tanzania on a daily basis are still quite overwhelming,” explained Ubora President Dave Burgess. “With little government infrastructure in place in Tanzania to provide for basic needs—like education, healthcare and social services—we’ve been able to come alongside our friends to help guide and fill some of these gaps.”

“Many of the programs require ongoing funding,” explained Burgess. “The revenue from Climb Kili provides general funds for Ubora’s five impact programs of education, health, business and agriculture, community and child sponsorship.”

The Event

Each year in February, people from around the world take a virtual climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro through Climb Kili. All race fees and sponsorships directly impact widows, children and families in Tanzania. Climbers choose from five different routes—from easy to extreme—and accumulate and log their mileage toward their Climb Kili goal for the month-long event.

It’s climber’s choice on how much mileage they set as goal for the month--accumulated by any mode of physical activity, including walking, running, rolling, swimming…

The event appeals to families and people of all ages. The youngest participant was four and the oldest 92— both climbers hailing from the same family tree!

“People get creative in their own personal climbs of Kilimanjaro and pedaled Peloton’s, walked on treadmills or ellipticals, swam laps, rolled wheelchairs, hiked national parks, strolled city sidewalks and walked the halls of assisted living centers, all in support of Tanzanians,” shared Rena Olsen, Climb Kili’s event director.

“Our youngest participant, Annalyn, is four years old and reached her goal of 22 miles for the month,” said Rena. “We love the creativity of our participants (and their parents) and heard that Annalyn accumulated some of her mileage while jumping on the bed!”

There is also a spiritual side to Climb Kili. Climbers were encouraged to pray and focus on the purpose of the event—the people of Tanzania. “Proudest miles yet, plus prayer and “Discerning Leader” Podcast. Just got up and got out and did it,” shared one participant.

All climbers received a T-shirt with the African proverb, “If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far, go together.”

Participants also had a chance to form teams to raise additional funds for Ubora or to engage in friendly competition for mileage.

The top fundraising team was “Catch Us If You Can” led by Tim Neet. The team contributed an additional $6,200 in funds for Tanzania!

“We more than doubled our revenue number from last year’s event and have made some fabulous new friends and partners along the way,” said Dave. “We’ve already begun discussions for 2023 Climb Kili and have some exciting new event additions for participants.”

Next on the horizon for Ubora is a real Climb of Mount Kilimanjaro in July, 2022, led by Zara Tours. For sponsorship opportunities, contact: lesliesams@uboratz.org.

Team Results

Our Climb Kili teams really showed up! Take a look at these impressive mileage totals for each team and route…

Novice Route – 22 Miles

Further Up & Further In – 48.57 miles

Roadkill – 38.80 miles

F3 Hooch – 37.2 miles

Rongai Route – 40 Miles

Catch Us If You Can – 521.06 miles

F3 Hooch – 264.23 miles

The Sams Club – 209.52 miles

High Climbers Route – 100 Miles

Catch Us If You Can – 732.73 miles

F3 Hooch – 512.35 miles

F3 Gwinnett – 349.84 miles

*F3 Teams, including Hooch, Gwinnett, Hoppylike and Nirvana claimed four of the top five spots on the High Climbers Route!

Macon Dunnagan Route – 160 Miles

Further Up & Further In – 408.90 miles

Wyoming Besties – 239.35 miles

F3 Hooch – 217.37 miles

Shout out to the two-person powerhouse team of “Magnificent Mamas Moving Mtns” for their 159.65 Climb Kili miles. Way to go Stephanie Griffin and Courtney Hester!

Summiters

Congratulations to all participants of Climb Kili! Following are those who reached their own personal summits, along with total Climb Kili milage accumulated for the month for each summiter:

Novice Route – 22 Miles

1. Nico du Plessis – 37.2 miles

2. Karla Boy 33.1 miles

3. Megan Strietelmeier – 32.98 miles

4. Leland Williams – 26.09 miles

5. Michele Lockwood – 25.04 miles

6. Ken Ussery – 25 miles

7. Annalyn Peak – 22.48 miles

8. Oliver Tseng – 22 miles

Rongai Route – 40 miles

1. Lori Bergquist – 102.28 miles

2. Chris Robert – 84.34 miles

3. Dan Richard – 61.69 miles

4. Dennis Lee – 68.10 miles

5. Lance Kelson -68.1 miles

6. Andrew Easton – 66.36 miles

7. Diane Quilter – 64 miles

8. Dave Boy III – 57.6 miles

9. Emily Heding – 55.84 miles

10. Ari Wajnberg – 54.86 miles

11. Rena Olsen – 54.5 miles

12. Cindy James – 52.79 miles

13. Mike Bransby – 52.6 miles

14. Jamie Brock – 52.16 miles

15. Lauren Mead – 51.54 miles

16. Jonathan Geisheimer – 49.85 miles

17. Stephanus Wirabudi – 48.94 miles

18. Ofir Kaidar-Heafetz – 48.75 miles

19. Beth Miller – 43.49 miles

20. Linda Lee – 46.3 miles

21. Tripti Macias – 46 Miles

22. Rock Taber – 43.51 miles

23. Chloe Shaia – 43 miles

24. Amy Shirley – 44 miles

25. Penny Eubank – 42.6 miles

26. Brian Robbins – 42.07 miles

27. Carol Pope – 42 miles

28. Chris Paine – 42 miles

29. Joy Sasser – 41.23 miles

30. Travis Sasser – 41.23 miles

31. April Geisheimer – 40.5 miles

32. Linda Landon – 40.35 miles

33. Ginny Wurttemberg – 40.29 miles

High Climbers Route – 100 Miles

1. Rock Reed – 162.8 miles

2. Ann Miller – 156.30 miles

3. Tom Wohlbach - 148 miles

4. Angie Reed – 145.51 miles

5. Christine Tobin – 126.63 miles

6. Steven Ferenczy – 125.99 miles

7. Lanee Johnson – 120.12 miles

8. Andreas Wirabudi – 114.36 miles

9. Stephen Sohn – 107.26 miles

10. Brian Jobmann – 110.97 miles

11. Brian Skeens – 106.87 miles

12. Amy Parker – 104.05 miles

13. Kevin Milton – 103.66 miels

14. Eric Robb – 103.1 miles

15. Mike Merritt – 101.55 miles

16. Greg Lea – 100.6 miles

17. Mike Lockwood – 100.51 miles

18. Rich Hirschland – 100.3 miles

19. Stephanie Griffin – 100.1 miles

Macon Dunnagan Route – 160 Miles

1. Doug James – 247.4 miles

2. Lisa Bratton – 239.35 miles

3. Carolee Williams – 161.5 miles

4. Tammy Pinkston – 160.74 miles

5. Adam Hill – 160.37 miles

Climb Kili Choice – Choice of personal goal

1. Todd Hickman 80.26 miles

2. Joy Moore- 52.5 miles

3. John Parker – 12.4 miles

4. Yangsook Ku – 2.5 miles

Reaching the summit together... Climb Kili 2022 Recap