Hi everyone,
Wanted to get this to you before the big thrust to the summit. Just know that I am thinking of you and everyone from Canandaigua, Birdsboro & Boston are sending love and prayers as you make the difficult trek to the top of the world! Please keep breathing, and when you are on the top look for me on my deck, I'll be waving to you with all the love in my heart. Thank Kevin for the moving descriptions. I feel like I am right there with you. I hope Christopher is over his cough, and feeling strong. Don't forget to take a picture of Chris and Carroll at the top!!! Love and Hugs, MOM (Janet)

We tried to figure out if you are at the summit at this moment, trying to get there, or making your way down and we have decided just to imagine that you are standing there watching as far out as you can see! Hopefully you can feel us waving as we cheer you on! We can't wait to hear all about it. We love you!
Love, Jim, Gina, Sue, and Greg!

Grandma Marion wanted me to email for her to say hello and safe climbing....she has been thinking of you all week and and following your progress through your mom and I. She sends her love can't wait to hear all about your adventure and see pics and is very proud of you all!
love Grandma Marion! (aunt Lorri)

Excellent news!!! So happy to hear you've made it so far and are now so close!!! Hoping for a great day tomorrow...feel the energy coming your way!
Alison

Its the Mar. 1 here so Mar. 2 on the mountain....today you reach summit.....WOW! You are all amazing! We are all watching the website each morning and night for updates....You carry us all to the top with you.....was touched by the lovely message today (from Kevin) my cup runneth over with joy for you all! Continued safe journey and can't wait to hear your message from the top...... Peace and love, aunt Lorri

Your almost there, wow, it must be amazing up there!I'm thinking about you every moment,and so happy you are getting to experience one of your dreams.Keep going honey! I'm praying for you!
Love Jayne

I'm thinking you are resting now getting prepared for the big climb to the summit. You two and your team members are amazing! I miss you so much and can't wait till Friday! Keep your focus and be careful tonight! I love you both very much. XXXOOO Sister Smell

Hi! It was good to hear your voice. Hope you are rested and energized for the all night hike! Haidyn asked to listen to "Aunt Laurel talking on the puter" over and over again. She's having a hard time understanding that we can't call you on the phone right now. Hope the top is as beautiful as you imagined it would be. I am so proud at how well you have all done!! Can't wait to hear all about it and see the pictures!! Haidyn also wanted to tell you "thank you for the leapster and Hi!" Much love, Chris

Hope the trip has exceeded expectations for all of you. I' m sure the comradeship
and beautiful views make this the most awesome experience of a lifetime.
Kisses and hugs to the sherpas for taking such good care of you! Miss you, Laurel!

BJ

Well looks like you've beaten us! Last week Joan, Jack & I were at 11,400' at Wolf Creek - but we cheated - we took the chairlift! You're doing it the hard way!! Good Luck tonight on your summit climb.

Your proud brother,
Stephen

Diane,
I am so glad you are there on the mountain with my mom..... after 20 years what an amazing way to re-connect with you! we are sending you good vibes from santa fe!!!
GO Diane GO!! love beth,chris and the pups!

We are having a church picnic at Mendon Ponds today. Its snowy and cold and I'm going to try orienteering. You inspire me! If you can climb Mt Kilimanjaro then I can get lost in Mendon ponds (I'm thinking of taking Fred!)!!

Enjoy your view of the world from the top and remember the climb down will be much easier!

Everyone here is asking about you and excited for you!!

Love you, Mom

Hi Dr. Mudd,
Everyone at BRO is enjoying the daily up-dates including many of your patients!!!! We're all sending you our support and love. Enjoy your final climb to the top. We are all with you in spirit!!!Kathy, Sue, Liz, Joanne, Mary, Mona, Megan,Bea, Rae, Joy, Denine, Antonella, Jim, Tim, & Louie. Henry, Elyn, Dr. Hansen, and Bob the builder too!!
P.S. Sharon K. hopes the hat she made is keeping you warm!!!

Hi Jack,
In a couple of hours you will be climbing to the summit. Alyssa, Ashley, Justin, and Amber are coming to spend the night. Brent and Cynthia are here to help. They are coming about the time you will be starting your climb. I will light the candle and we will all be thinking about all of you. I love you. Love always, Patty

Dear Patrick and Robin,
Jared says he loves you and wishes he could climb a big mountain, too. Will you take him next time??
We're looking up and thinking about you! Can't wait to hear all about it.
Love from the Lius

It's amazing how ordinary this Saturday is around Rochester (a little snow and cold)... and yet you are accomplishing an extraordinary feat half way around the world. My thoughts are about you today, hoping the view at the top was spectacular and awe-inspiring. Travel safely...
Kathleen C.

Laurel and Kathi Heard you today Laurel.
Sounds great. spectacular that you ALL are at high camp..
take lots of pics. We're all with you.. Can't you hear us???

celebrate and be in the NOW..... cauz you are....
hugs kate

Hey Sis,
Just talked with Ruth. We are both praying you up to the top. Knowing you will receive whatever you need to get you there. Bad shoulders, hips, ankle, what is that. God is in control and your incredible commitment. We are so proud of you. Wish so much I could do it too!!!!! Not possible. Doug and I love you. Hugs, Big Sis

We lite the candle from Old Forge as you reached the summit. The kids kept watching the time and we all said congratulations to you all. We are so proud of you. Have a safe journey down. Love you. Love Patty, Alyssa, Ashley, Justin and Amber

Hi Carroll, Chris and climbers,

Our thoughts and prayers go with you as you make the big push. May God guide and keep you in His care and watch over you. Love to all and peace.

Don

You are almost there! What an incredible journey this must be for you. Bet you nver knew just how much you can take. I love you can't wait to see the live update! Climb back down safely please. Then go to the spa Kimmer, Tom you join her and get a massage bet you could use it! See you soon! Sister Smell

Everyone, just make it to the top. We are all thinking of you. You are climbing a mountain, and we shovel snow....
Wave those flags with pride.
Give it your all.
My love and best wishes to all.

Brenda

We couldn't be more excited for you! We are so proud. You are an incredible person and this incredible journey will no doubt change your own life as well as those you worked so hard raising money for. We can't wait for the next audio post-summit!
Matt sends a "Go Number One!"
Love, Mon & Matt

Ok I posted one but I don't see it on here so I'll do another one !!! We are so pumped for you both CONGRATS !! Mom and Dad have been staying on top of me and updating them all the time. We've been bragging about this to all our friends and even some of my customers !! You guys are doing a great thing, I'm sure the view is remarkable. Oh and Dietz says Yeaaaah Buddy to you both. I can't wait to hear all about the amazing trip!! Stay safe and love you guys.

PS. I think I'm the only one that puts Phils name first :) Love ya bro.

-Matt and Kelly

Hi Patrick, Well, I would think you have reached the top of the world and are starting back down… or you are there right now enjoying a wonderful experience… I believe it could not possibly be any better… what an exciting thing and life altering I am sure. It is about 10:48pm here and Kiernan and I just got back from bowling night… he was a trooper. Very good! I did not do as well as I would have liked… but it was a nice night out and Jan & Ray helped with Kiernan. Everyone was asking about you and they were excited about what you are doing… I might even have two climbers for the 2009 trip…they are going to look into it! The neighbors are all asking about you and have their eyes out for me and making sure Kiernan & I are ok… they are excited about your accomplishment and look forward to hearing the event from you. I think we should and will most likely have to rent a building at one of the local parks. Have everyone hear about this trip of yours, give a photo show of the trip, plus a time to get your autograph… you are a big hero to a lot of people…your whole group is. I am sure you all could go on tour and give lectures on this trip… it is amazing to see all the love and support that keeps piling in on this blog site…It had been a very busy day here… Kiernan has been very happy today with a constant smile and using his phone a lot to talk to whom you may ask? Well, he babble talks and says Dadee every time he has the phone in his hand. it is really cute to watch. Every time we go out to get into your car he sees your car and goes Dadee! He really loves his Dadee. Well I am going to bed now… Kiernan will be up early for sure! You know his routine… no matter what time he goes to sleep at night it is ALWAYS an early rise… this am it was even earlier (5am) and no going back to sleep! I guess he knew it was a big deal over there in Africa and wanted to give that EXTRA support for Dadee’s big day! We Love You Much and are VERY Proud of you! Have a wonderful and safe trip down the mountain…I am sure it will be a whole new set of experiences just like it was going up! Congrats! Have fun! And send my love and support to Char, Matt, Todd, Robing & Patrick F. CONGRATS TO YOU ALL….and thanks.
Talk to you on the “Beach” ;) 143 xoxoxoxo Michelle & Kiernan

It's 10:20pm here, 7:20 am there - am hoping you are watching the sun rise and having a life altering experience!! You and all of your fellow hiker friends should be so proud of what you have accomplished as a team!!! I can't wait to hear how you all did! PLEASE be careful coming back down!!! David, Haidyn, and I went on a hike around a nearby lake - through the trees and Haidyn kept saying..."we're on a hike like Aunt Laurel is... no snow here though, but we're in a forest and going up hills like she is!!" After hearing the audio - I showed her pictures of the climbers and Kili. She really liked your hiking poles!! She asked if you used them skiing too ;-) Best wishes to all of you!
Much love,
Chris

Ok Patrick thought you might like to see this… one of your favorite songs…and I thought it would help complete your journey of inspiration… you know it and I am sure that you will hear it in your head with just a few words read. Especially since you play it so much at home that the CD player will not play that particular song any more. To whom ever is reading this at your group gathering please feel free not to read the whole thing…Patrick will know it. But it is fitting…. The song is: Somewhere Over The Rainbow/what A Wonderful World from the Meet Joe Black soundtrack:
Somewhere over the rainbow way up high / And the dreams that you dream of once in a lullaby / Somewhere over the rainbow blue birds fly / And the dreams that you dream of, dreams really do come true / Someday I'll wish upon a star, wake up where the clouds are far behind me / Where trouble melts like lemon drops / High above the chimney tops is where you'll find me / Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly / And the dreams that you dare to, oh why, oh why can't I? / Well I see trees of green and red roses too, / I'll watch then bloom for me and you / And I think to myself, what a wonderful world / Well I see skies of blue and I see clouds of white and the brightness of day / I like the dark and I think to myself, what a wonderful world / The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky / are also on the faces of people passing by / I see friends shaking hands saying, How do you do? They're really saying, I, I love you / I hear babies cry and I watch them grow, / They'll learn much more than we'll know / And I think to myself, what a wonderful world / Someday I'll wish upon a star, wake up where the clouds are far behind me / Where trouble melts like lemon drops / High above the chimney tops is where you'll find me / Somewhere over the rainbow way up high / And the dreams that you dare to, oh why, oh why can't I?

Congradulations! You made it! I knew you would! You two are incredible. Tears of joy stream down my face as I think about Pa and how proud he is of you. What a great way to memorialize him as well as all the others that didn't survive the cancer. I sit here in awe thinking about the survivors that made that climb! Drink it in guys, enjoy each precious moment. Can't wait to see you. Love you bunches. You all are absolutely wonderful people and may Gods blessings come back to you all tenfold. God bless and be careful coming down you all must be exhausted to the bone! You'll probably want to sleep for a week! With love, Kelly

Congratulations on your climb and reaching the top of Kili! I can't begin to tell you how exciting and moving it has been to follow your climb.....my thoughts have been with you all week long. Kathi and Laurel, I am just so blessed to know both of you! Good luck to the whole team and may you all come home safe and sound. Love and hugs, Terry