Taiwo's on the Road to Kilimanjaro

In July 2019 I am climbing Mount Kilimanjaro because I want to demonstrate that you're never too old and it's never too late to try something outside your comfort zone.  
I need your help to raise £8000 to cover the cost of the trip.

Background

I am 56 years old,  a Lifestyle (Transformational) Coach, Writer and founder of The New 5ifty which is aimed at supporting people who are approaching or at midlife to help them reconnect with their passion, step out of their comfort zone so they can make choices about the way they create the next chapter of their lives.

I support clients through coaching and workshops. I use my online presence, a blog, You Tube, Facebook and other social media as a way of influencing people in midlife to do things that will bring them out of their comfort zone. Last year I created a project where I challenged myself to do something I had never done before each day for 50 days which ended with me, on day 50, boarding a busy train and bursting into song.  You can watch the video below

I wrote up the project each day in a blog series called Every Day for 50 Days. I did this because I wanted to show what is possible – if I can do it then they can do it. If I can do it then I can support and encourage others to do it, especially people in midlife who are struggling with a lack of confidence, or the feeling that they haven’t achieved what they wanted and never will, or that the first phase of their life is over and they can’t see what the next phase may look like. As I always say, midlife is a new beginning NOT the beginning of the end and some people need to see that in action.

The 2018 theme for The New 5ifty is the Midlife Hero’s Journey, based on the Joseph Campbell’s themes of departure, initiation and return, where a person (the Hero) is called to face some sort of challenge that, if he succeeds will transform his life forever. I see this trip to Kilimanjaro as a calling in itself, but it is also part of a bigger calling. A calling to be a leader, to practice what I preach and lead by example. To show people what is possible if you get out of your own way. To show those in midlife that it is never too late to try something new and it’s never too late to step out of your comfort zone. To show that while the destination is amazing, the journey is equally, if not more powerful. Your support will enable me to do that.

 

I am documenting this journey in a blog series entitled The (Midlife) Hero’s Journey . The blog series will be collated into a book of the same name and I will also produce a journal of the same name. I will record my progress before, during and after the climb on video on The New 5ifty YouTube channel and that will be compiled into a DVD.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (or what you might want to know)

1.      But Why would you do this Taiwo? Why?

Here’s an extract from my blog piece in response.

 

I’m doing this for a number of reasons:

1.      It’s totally out of my comfort zone – no showers, camping, peeing (and other things) in a bucket

2.      It’s going to stretch me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually

3.      It’s completely in the spirit of the new 5ifty

4.      It’s an example to other people in midlife who think it’s too late for them

5.      I’m curious about what I’m going to learn

 

This journey is a spiritual one for me. A true Hero’s Journey. I will come to the end of the trip, having hopefully, reached the summit, but also transformed into another level of me. Not the next level - that will come in my preparation, and not the level after that -  that will come once I board the plane or the one after that – who knows where I’ll be? I just know that, for better or for worse, I won’t be the same person I am today.

 

I did not have a dream to climb Kilimanjaro. I have never wanted to climb Kilimanjaro – did I mention it’s totally out of my comfort zone? But the more I said I wouldn’t do the trip, the more I knew I would. I knew one day I would hear myself and hear the excuses I made to myself and others and I would give myself a good talking to. 
So here I am.

 

2.      But climb Mount Kilimanjaro???

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m very independent and this is an exercise in asking for help.

I can’t do the climb on my own so I’m doing it as part of the Mountain Leadership Experience which is about team work and connecting with likeminded people from all over the world. They provide help with physical training and having the right mindset. For most groups only 40% of people who attempt to climb Kilimanjaro actually reach the summit. With the Mountain Leadership Experience and K2 Adventures the average is 96% so I am in very safe hands.

In a previous life (or when I worked in the voluntary sector) I successfully raised funds (both financial and in kind) for projects and this is the first time I am doing this to get out a message I feel truly passionate about – I’m proof that it’s never too late to have a go. This requires me putting myself out there and asking for help. Something that doesn’t come very easily. The easy way out would be for me to postpone it until next year and try (and possibly fail) to do it all by myself. and I really appreciate your willingness to come here with the intention of helping me

3.      Anything else?

Apart from the climb, the Mountain Leadership Experience is about giving back. We will spend our first 2 days volunteering at Mwereni Integrated School for the Blind in Moshi. Any excess funds raised will go towards building a new orphanage in Arusha that will house 35 street children.

Those are the reasons I’m doing this.

 

4.      What do the costs cover?

Cost of the climb which includes:

Adventure Travel insurance and license fees

 All land travel in private vehicles

All hotel accommodations (two to a room)

All tent accommodations (two to a tent)

 ***single accommodations available for an additional fee

All meals listed in the itinerary

All park fees and permits

All porters, assistants and guides

All private assistant cooks and one head cook

All campsite equipment to include: 2 person tents, dining tents, tables and chairs

Supplemental Oxygen if needed

A full training plan

A full packing list

The costs also cover monthly conference calls which are led by Blair Singer, where we are mentally and emotionally prepared for the journey and daily debriefs as we travel up and down the mountain with final debriefs after we return home.

Flights and Insurance

Any excess funds raised will go towards building a new orphanage in Arusha that will house 35 street children.

5. What about the equipment?

Good question. I am approaching outdoors companies and brands to source the equipment I need, and I will fund some of that myself.

 

6. What’s in it for me? (No one’s actually said that, but I thought I’d offer anyway)

Well everyone who donates will get:

·        a personalised thank you.

·        an acknowledgment in book

·        either a copy of the DVD or a copy of the book

 
7. So what can I do?

You can help by making a donation here on gofundme. There's no such thing as too little. Whatever you can give will be very much appreciated.
You can also help by sharing this with your friends on Social Media
 

8. How can I follow your progress?

By:

·        subscribing to receive updates on here on GoFundMe

·        you can also read my blog series The Midlife Hero’s Journey at

https://www.thenew5ifty.com/the-midlife-heros-journey/ 

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT. GOD BLESS YOU xx