Get to know your climbers

Myrna Bentley

In 2010, after 36 great years in the  co-op financial services system, I decided to retire.  Now I spend my time as a volunteer director on the Board of Affinity Credit Union, the Agency for Co-operative Housing, CCA International Program Committee and with a number of other community organizations. 

Being a part of the co-op movement has meant so much to me. Even though all that experience hasn't included much climbing I am so grateful to have the support of the co-op movement to motive me up the mountain!

Ingrid Fischer

Kili and co-ops, combining two of my favourite things in life.  I’ve never been able to resist peeking over peaks and I’m fascinated with co-operatives because they continually surprise, innovate and provide services to members against impossible odds. Just as trekking is rewarding because it is based on personal initiative and resilience, co-ops are locally driven and in my view the best hope for equitable improvement of global living standards. 

Lydia Phillips

I feel very happy to be part of this group of women taking on this big  climb up Kilimanjaro. Through my work with cooperatives for the last 30 years, I can see firsthand the coop model working not only here in Canada but all over the world. I can see that coops transform communities, create new opportunities and maximize human potential. This UN International Year of Cooperatives is an inspiration to maximize my own potential and commitment by climbing this epic mountain. Thank you to family and friends for your support and encouragement!

Have a listen to Bedouin Soundclash's "MountainTop"- it is helping me to keep up the pace during my workouts.

 

Jo-Anne Ferguson

My interest and commitment to co-operatives is about to reach new heights - the height of the tallest peak in Africa! Throughout almost 40 years of working with credit unions and co-operatives I'm ever-inspired by what people can do when they form a co-operative and work toward a common goal. Whether it's a woman in Rwanda empowered to start a small business or a poor farmer in Aceh who runs for a board position, the changes they are creating for their families and communities are remarkable. I'm priviledged to see this development and look forward to celebrating their success in this International Year of Co-operatives by achieving a personal goal and raising funds for Co-operative Development Foundation. Funds raised will further assist co-ops in less-developed countries.

Climbing mountains

Mount Kilimanjaro

We are four career co-operators with more than 100 years of combined co-operative experience. Each of us has contributed countless work and volunteer hours toward poverty reduction and co-operative development. We are passionate and committed to succeed. We wish to make a special  contribution to International Cooperative Development in this year, the International Year of Cooperatives as declared by The United Nations. We also wanted to mark this incredible milestone with a significant personal challenge.

We have been training for the climb in a number of ways including weight loss programs, walking, toning, yoga, walking, cardio, extreme walking like backpacking and hiking, biking, and we threw in some more walking for good measure. Unfortunately we live in different parts of the Canada, and for one of us a different part of the world, so while we can't always kick each other into gear in person we know we can find the motivation and support we need via skype and e-mail. 

We researched a few different routes for our climb and after some deliberation decided on the longer route which affords the greatest potential for success (age may have been a factor but we also didn't want all that walking to go to waste!!!). The challenges of this adventure has definitely changed our lives and it has attracted quite the attention!  We are committed to succeed both individually and as a team.