Sandy's Triathlon

I have just completed my first triathlon to raise funds for Kenya. I raised $3245.00 and had a great time training and finishing the tri. I had to learn to really swim well. I had taken lessons 4 years ago but this past winter I worked hard so that I could complete the 1000 meters at the North Bay Tri. I trained hard on my bike, but I am not so big and strong, but managed to do the 32 kilometers in a good time for me. I was so excited when I finished the bike ride that I knew I could complete the 8.2 km run so I ran walked it and was grinning from ear to ear when I finished.\

This whole fundraising experience would not have been possible without the help of several people: my training partner Brenda Lalonde, my swimming buddies Brenda Walsh and Cathy Rennie, the person who always makes you feel like you can conquer anything Viola Burke and my husband Gerry who supports everything that I do.

The money raised will go a long way in helping the children in Kenya.

Getting ready

Today team members were at my home and we packed our 18 bags. It was quite exciting to fit everything we want to take with us to Kenya into our large black hockey type bags. Our team is great and the youth going on this trip are incredible. Steven Hepburn just got back from being one of a few students selected from across Canada to be at the G8 and G20 summits. He had a great experience and I know that he added something by being there. He is an amazing young man and will be a great asset to our team. Sarah Schroeder, Sandra Brownlee and Laura Chute are quite remarkable young women who have contributed something to their community and school. Emily Duggan, in her Masters program at Emmanuelle College in Toronto, is our youth leader and is a young woman who has a level head on her shoulders and is a great role model for the youth that are on the trip.

I think they are excited about the trip and maybe a bit aprehensive since everything is unknown to them. I am sure they will all be great ambassadors for the Hope2Kenya team and for our town of North Bay.

Leaving in Two weeks

Out Hope2Kenya team is getting ready to leave on July 6th. Unfortunately we are now down to 9 members since Debbie Jones had to drop out due to an accident that she had. She was our teacher trainer and we will miss her.
Wonderful things have continued to happen for Hope2Kenya. Many people in our area have felt called to help in many different ways. A group from Living Fit in North Bay began making Tippi/Izzy dolls for us. These are hand knit tiny dolls that we can take with us to hand out to children. Most of the children in Kenya do not have toys and these will be wonderful for the kids to have. Several other women picked up the idea from their Living Fit friends and we are now taking over 200 dolls with us.


I spoke to a small knitting group and they and their friends have made over 40 sweaters for young children.
People have donated money and school supplies and medical supplies and the list goes on. I am so grateful for all of the individuals and groups who have contributed to us in some way.

FJ McElligott in Mattawa is one of the smallest high schools in the Near North District School Board with only 125 students. Under the direction of teacher Chris Davies this school raised $2120.00 for our team. This money will be used to help complete a school in Kolongolo Village.

Our Fashion show and luncheon held at the Ram's Head Restaurant in Callander yielded $700.00 for our fund and the whole luncheon was great fun. Joyce's Fashions and lia sophia jewellery came together to create a wonderful array of outfits.

Our plans are now in place for the work we will do in Kenya. The youth that are going are incredible young people and are excited about what they can contribute.

It will be interesting to see what the next few weeks brings before we go.