Our provincial organization, the British Columbia Association for Community Living, organized a climbing expedition to Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, that involved 45 climbers, half of whom have a disability.  These climbers and their family and friends, including Langley Association for Community Living's own Gerry London and Kim Bucholtz, wanted to announce to all British Columbians that people with developmental disabilities can achieve extraordinary goals and spread awareness within our community.  Well, they accomplished far more than that.  The whole group showed the entire world what can be achieved by those in our communities who live with a developmental disability.

Read Gerry and Kim's reflections about their fantastic journey.  You can also go to the British Columbia Association for Community Living website for even more information about the journey the whole group took.

I am Gerry London.  I work at Save on Foods and am also a DJ for a local non-profit society "The Sunshine Dance Club".  I am a member of the Board of Directors of The Langley Association for Community Living and a strong self advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities.  I was glad to get this opportunity for once in a lifetime to go to climb Mt Kilimanjaro.  I felt that is would change my life in the way I think of the world.  I am inspired by the quote: "Don't be a great person, just be the best person you can be".

I am Kim Bucholtz, Manager of Employee Services at The Langley Association for Community Living.  I have been with the Association for 25 years now.  I am married with 3 children and have just become a first time grandmother!  I was offered the opportunity of a lifetime to climb Mt Kilimanjaro as part of a team that would allow me to represent our organization's goal to share with others the many abilities of individuals with developmental disabilities.  I am inspred by the quote: "Virtually nothing on earth can stop a person with a positve attitude who has her goal clearly in sight.

GERRY AND KIM WITH ONE OF THE PORTERS - DAY 5 OF THE CLIMB APPROXIMATELY 11,450 FEET UP!

DAY 8 OF THE CLIMB - 15,090 FEET UP!
THE LAVA TOWER IS IN THE BACKGROUND

Gerry - March 13, 2006

I want to thank the Langley Association for Community Living for supporting us to go to Africa and your belief in me to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.

This journey gave me the opportunity to see another culture, to see how they live and to see the animals in their own environment.

As you know, I made it to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro and made it higher than any mountain here. I was proud to hold the LACL banner at the top of the mountain.

My stubbornness helped me to achieve my goal, along with others who were part of the bigger team and people who were back home that encouraged us.

I am glad that people back here kept an eye on us and were able to follow our climb and safari on the website. We were able to get some messages while in Africa.

I believe that people with disabilities can achieve things in their own way, even climbing mountains.

I am so grateful for this opportunity and I will have these memories for my lifetime.

Kim - March 13, 2006

I can’t begin to express my deepest gratitude for the opportunity to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with Gerry and to raise awareness about the abilities of persons with developmental disabilities.

The Langley Association for Community Living’s support and representation in this incredible experience is yet another example of this organization’s commitment to the belief that individuals with developmental disabilities have the self-determination to realize their goals and dreams, even when it may appear impossible.

This journey gave me time to think and appreciate how lucky we are to live in the province of British Columbia and in a community that believes that its most vulnerable citizens are supported to achieve a quality of life that extends beyond their care.

From this experience, I also feel that I have gained heightened insight to the value of support and that regardless of disability or ability, we all need support.

It was evident during the climb that the reason we were so successful was the tremendous support that we received from the organization we represented, our families and friends, the community, fellow team members.  In addition, I think it is important for others to understand that although my role was as a support climber, during our entire journey that  support was reciprocal, Gerry also supported me.

This opportunity will always be a very special memory for me and I am truly honored to have represented such a great organization and to have developed a friendship with Gerry who is a remarkable young man, with a very kind heart.