How it all began...

This story starts with me on the ground at the Loyola Campus rugby field last June with a newly torn ACL. And hopefully it ends with me standing on Africa's highest point, Uhuru Peak, at 5896 meters in December 2010.

At first, the thought of such a long-term injury terrified me. For one, I had never been out 6-9 months and had no idea how I would get through such a long period without sport. I was also devastated about the opportunities lost, especially with the new Quebec Senior Women's team I was enjoying so much. My teammate, Suzy, told me I had one week to wallow in self-pity following the injury, and did I ever use it. Anyone who has been through an injury like this one before- or even just lived a huge disappointment- knows that the "self-pity" part of the process is important. It's not fair for anyone to ask us to "look on the bright side" at that point, and we're not being fair to ourselves if we even try to do so. Indulge in the disappointment. Take the time to feel like crap.

And then... get over it.

At the end of one week I was tired of eating pear sorbet and whining over the phone to everyone about my knee. (I'm sure they were tired of hearing about it too.) It's then that the injury became an opportunity rather than an obstacle. Rugby is my passion, but it keeps me grounded here almost year-round. So I decided that since I couldn't play rugby, I would change everything and take advantage of it: For one semester, I decided to quit school, to work full time in Sept.-Oct., and to go on a trip in Nov.-Dec.

Originally, I wanted to get involved with a humanitarian organisation. I thought long and hard, contacted many organisations, and realised that just two months wasn't enough for me.  If I ever did get involved in a humanitarian organisation, I would want it to be a more long-term project.  I put it aside and wondered if there was anything else I could do to make a difference.

And then I thought about Greg Mortenson's book, Three Cups of Tea, and about his goal to educate children around the world, especially children in Pakistan and Afghanistan.  Was there anything I could do, concretely, to help children as Mortenson did (and still does)? Interestingly enough, Mortenson grew up in Tanzania and climbed Kilimanjaro at 12 years old. Then the idea hit me.