By Michael Boni, member of SHS Board of Directors

I missed most of the morning at work today to have the opportunity to welcome Jim and Ryan back from Africa. As I arrived at Semiahmoo House there was a big painted poster saying "Welcome back Jim and Ryan!".  When I entered the front door there were signs all over the walls in the main hall congratulating and welcoming them back to SHS. The hall was packed with clients and caregivers and staff.  It was a party atmosphere.  Jim and Ryan walked in and all the clients sang to them 'they were jolly good fellows.'   Jim wore a green T-shirt with the words 'We Made It' across his chest.  Ryan has laryngitis but was beaming from ear to ear.  Everyone just wanted to touch them and express their appreciation for everything they had accomplished for themselves and for the entire society.  You had to be there to feel the energy in the room.

After Jim and Ryan shook many hands they moved to centre stage where the audio system was set up for a little chat with everyone.  It felt more like Christmas in the room than like two individuals just coming back from holidays!   Clients queued in line and had prepared written questions that they each wanted to ask Jim and Ryan.  One by one they took their turns going up to the microphone and asking their questions.  With considerable humour and ease Jim answered each question, obviously feeling right at home with his 'family.'  Ryan could not talk much and it might have been just as well or we would have been there all day. The questions were very sophisticated.  Members asked things like, "does the glacier melt or vaporize?, or "while you where away you missed my birthday"?  Others included 'how much money did you make, did you go to the bathroom, did you use rope or walking sticks, did it feel like walking from the equator to the Arctic Circle"?  It was sometimes hard to understand the questions but the feelings where strong and the answers had most laughing and proud of their mountain climbers who made it to the top of Africa.

Their lead guide was Simon, who also guided my Kilimanjaro climb. Jim showed many pictures starting with their side trip to a home that housed abandoned children and families with the AIDS virus.  It was very moving, and obviously Africa was having its powerful effect on the group from Surrey.  They had taken bags of pencils and paper for the children and it sounds like Jim would like to establish a relationship with this home and SHS.

Next was the climb itself and it sounds like Ryan was leading Jim each day.  They did not need any diamox or any other drug to assist with their climb. Jim's pictures seem to catch the power of Africa and Kili and brought back many pleasant thoughts for myself.  The group bonded well with all the guides and porters.  The food was, well.... African Mountain food.  Nothing more needs to be said about this topic!  Kidding aside, it sounds like the entire group had an amazing time and a wonderful experience. The fact that they summitted was an extra bonus.  When Jim showed the picture of Ryan standing at the top of Africa holding onto the Welcome sign he was posed exactly the way I had in the picture of our group at the top.   Even his left arm was up leaning against the sign like mine had been. This was special for me because we had talked about what it was like at the top.  I got the feeling he was visualizing himself at the top while we discussed this before they left for Africa. While Jim was talking to the group from across the hall Ryan stared me down and gave me the thumbs-up sign.  I guess they were not the only winners on this summit?

During the showing of the safari pictures one of SHS wheelchair clients decided he wanted to imitate the different animals sounds.  He was proud of his vocal cords and his best impersonation was the elephant. T his went on for the rest of the presentation and it just added to the fun. Someone asked Jim how the Mesia tribe members milked their cows? Jim quickly responded by saying 'up side down, because they were below the equator.'  Never quite looked at it like that before!

All in all it seemed to me there was a lot of success to this great story.  Ryan's development, Jim getting in shape, fund raising, community awareness, and how proud all the members of this society were of Ryan and Jim.

I think one thing that helped this be such a success was the preparation that everyone involved had taken.  From the parents and children at Southridge, the teachers, the staff at SHS, the sponsors, especially the 'boys' at Mountain Magic store and Tusker guiding company, the dinners and all the hard work to put on a meal for 160 of your closest friends. Zena's hard work, supported by Cheryl from out in Halifax, and Eddie Franks' visit to SHS back in April  set the stage for what was to come to enable Jim and Ryan to make the Top of Africa.  I cannot forget Natasha and Paul who where there at the beginning, pushing this idea through.  Mark Milner from Southridge started the idea at the school well over a year ago and even though Mark and myself had some 'words' during the late stages of preparation I have to concede he pulled through in aces and definitely helped make this trip a huge success.  Barb Kull, one of the 'Mums' on the climb, also came through and played a significant role in pulling everyone together. I know I am missing some others and I apologize for this unintentional oversight.    I have to end by saying, " What do we do for an encore?"

Michael Boni, CFP