Day #52

Location: Basecamp
Altitude: 5364m
Local Time: 9:15pm / May 18
Weather: Cool (40's) sunny/sleet

This will be the last day that I will be posting the Summit Scholarship update for this week as I realize that not everyone reads the blog daily and I want everyone to know how easy it has now become to donate to this scholarship!

If you are familiar with the details, please jump ahead to my daily message!

Summit Scholarship Update

Following is an update from Liesl:

The USC website for the climb
is now online at www.sc.edu/everest. The University of South Carolina team has created a comprehensive site
which includes many video clips about
your trek and your goal, links to news
coverage, great pictures, and how to make a gift.

Gifts to the cause have been coming in faster, competing with your climb, and we're now at $4,397! Recently, Palmetto Health Alliance made a generous Mount Kilimanjaro level donation. There are many other gifts mentioned even on this blog that are coming down the pike. Every gift helps us get closer to the "one dollar for every foot" goal. Let's continue to spread the word! We've been sending posters out all over the state and through the country, and are now
having more printed.

Online Giving:
https://giftsonline.sc.edu/contribute.asp
As of today, the Summit Scholarship is
available as a drop-down choice for
online giving. The new steps are more
simple:
Fill out all information as described. When you reach "Contribution
Information", enter as follows in the
drop-down categories:
1. Division/Campus: SELECT "Columbia
Nursing"
2. Category: SELECT "Scholarships"
3: Gift Designation: SELECT "Summit Scholarship Endowment Fund"

Well, we finally have our marching orders and tomorrow is our departure date for our summit bid! Mike (NZ), Anna, and I will leave camp (about 5am) with other climbers destined for Camp #2. Mike (GB) is already one day ahead of us and we look forward to reuniting with him.

During the next few days I will be posting both text messages and audioblogs as I want to share the experience with all of you that have waited patiently, as I have, for the past 52 days!

I may not be as detailed in my responses to each of you as it is going to be much colder up higher and I remember before that my hands grew numb quite quickly in the cold! So, it may just be a detailed report of how we are doing ... and a bulk grouping of thanks to those that do send messages!

Keep sending the prayers and well wishes as if ever needed, are needed now!

Here we go, onward and upward!

Your Messages:

Carol:
Hi sweetheart. Well, it's finally here! We depart tomorrow and are very anxious! Can't wait to get through the Khumbu one more time and on to Camp #2. Will plan to do text and audioblog updates daily so all should be as up to date as possible! Look forward to talking to you more often also as I will need those little bits of encouragement to keep me going!

I love you and miss you terribly :>)

Pat :>)

AORN Friends:

Bonnie ... no more underwear shots, that's guaranteed! I'll be checking the New Moon out as I climb and now appreciate better the understanding of it's meaning! I appreciate you staying tuned as the real adventure now begins!

Lisa ... hope your weather gets better and ours stays the way it is! Yes, weather can change drastically and all of us here on the mountain pay heed to that potential! Please say hi to my AORN family and appreciate the support!

Tom ... thanks for figuring out the time difference regarding summit calls home! You are correct on the time, however hope to be on the summit in early to mid morning! No matter what the time, I'm sure Carol will accept the call from the summit! Appreciate your support very much!

Canadian Friends:

Mom & Dad ... thanks so much for the message! Enjoyed talking to you on Sunday, sorry we had such a bad connection on the phone! Keep the candles burning!

Desi & family ... thanks for the best wishes and continued support! Need those prayers now and keep the emails coming on a daily basis!

John, Jane, & family ... glad I was able to talk to Mom on Mother's day, and Dad later that evening ... even though we had an awful connection! The real adventure starts now! Keep up the cheers!

Greg & Rita ... great to hear from you and thanks for the updates from home. Enjoy the toasts without me, but I look forward to sharing a few with you when home in late June! Hope the Sens finish off Buffalo on Saturday. Let me know the outcome! When is the golf date in June?

Columbia Friends:

Alma ... thanks for the best wishes, and the offer of cookies! Both will get me to the top, and home!

Deb, Kristen, & Danielle ... thanks so much for the news from home. Danielle, glad you have the boot off, and Kristin hope you feel better soon!
Thanks for all your support!

Norm ... many thanks for the support. It's time to put the marathon training into practice!

Susan ... a little comic relief to break the tension was well accepted by all! Now are focused on task at hand and can't wait to go! Thanks for the support!

Belinda ... you better take something for the fluttering as it may get worse! We leave in the morning and are raring to go ... upwards! No worries on the photos of snow ... easily done! Thanks for the support!

Palmetto Health Friends:

Sandra ... enjoy Jackson Hole, it's beautiful! We are excited as we are off in the morning so hope you can check in over the next week! Many thanks for your support ... even during vacation!

Minnie ... look forward to many meals with you and Mary! Safety is foremost on my mind ... and getting home!
Thanks for the continued support! See you soon!

Tim ... many thanks for your support! I am sure I will have to dig deep ... but will dig as deep as I have to!

Laura ... glad that my PRMH family is following along! The adventure begins!

Sharon ... many thanks for Psalm 148:7-13. I have a great respect for His creations and this mountain!

USC Friends:

Faculty ... the day is here! Keep me in your prayers!

All The Others:

Bill & Michele ... well, we are on our way and the waiting is over! Wish us luck and keep in touch (how dare you miss a day!).

Ann & Graham ... it's our turn now so keep tuned in for our move up the mountain!

Andrea ... you have to be able to laugh at yourself, and I will be the first to do that ... so the underwear story was easy to share! Enjoyed yours too!

Kurt, Donna, & girls ... thanks for sharing even the most mundane stories "of the real world" as it helps me to keep connected! Thanks for the thoughts and prayers!

Phyllis & Ashlyn ... thanks for the response and hope things work out at school. Thanks for informing the State Board of Nurses about the scholarship ... hopefully they can spread the news and contribute!

Liz ... many thanks for your connection to NASCAR and the ability to get the flag to me on time! Am excited about NASCAR doing a story on me! No worries on the hug for Bo ... it's a given! Thanks for the support and can't wait for pics of me and NASCAR on top!

Fred & Munroe ... will convey congrats to Ward when I see him tomorrow!

MC ... very appropriate quote as we leave tomorrow! Thanks so much for the timing! I am excited for you and Mt. Kiliminjaro ... I know what it's like to have dreams come true!

Tyler ... thanks for the well wishes. Let us know where you are from so we can put you on the map!

Mira ... looking forward to posting the NASCAR photos after the summit! Thanks to US Postal Service and NASCAR!

Jen ... look forward to giving high fives to Bo and Ward and will see them tomorrow! Many thanks for thee best wishes as we head out tomorrow!

Ken ... appreciate the weather report and hope all stays well for us! Hope we don't run into any traffic jams on our side! I like your idea of using the NASCAR flag if I encounter traffic ... I'll just pull a "Jeff Gordon" and pass them all!

Wendy ...Hi, I'll talk to you up the hill, really exicted now... Mike

Mike's Mum ...Hi Mum, I got your letter posted to base camp thank you very much, I have the baby tag and will take it to the summit. Time for me to be strong... love mike

Mat ... Thanks for the encouraging words, its all down to the next few days... cheers mat........mike

BJ ...Thanks BJ, keep an eye on our progress..... cheers mike

Christiaan, Brigitte & Timo ... Thanks guys not long now ....mike

Wendibendi, Faye, Mark and everyone else at chelts and glouc A and E...
Thanks so much guys for your email - a fantastic surprise and just in the nick of time as it's our turn to go to the top tommorrow. Should take 5 days of hard slog...and yes Faye I'd rather be diving in Jamaica by now! Anyway, I look forwards to seeing you all soon and celebrating with fun in the sun. Don't worry that great tan all peeled off pronto and was very painful so i'm slapping on plenty more cream this time.
Take care guys, miss you all - if not the work - and look forwards to seeing you soon,
Lots of love, Anna x