Summit of Kilimanjaro Photo: Wally Berg

First Summit Dispatch

It's 7:30 in the morning on March 6th, Laurie's birthday. This is Wally Berg with Berg Adventures, and I am calling you on behalf of Climb for a Cure from Uhuru Point, Freedom Point, the very top of Kilimanjaro. It's cold and windy, the sun has come up, and this team is successful. The success is going on as I speak. A group of us summitted about 7:00 o'clock this morning, and others are still on their way to the top. We are proud; it's been an exceptionally emotional and gratifying time for this group.

Those of you back home may not understand how a big mountain like this keeps asserting the moment to you. You don't stand around and relax in this situation. We are proud of our accomplishment.

A group of us have summitted and started down. I am going to wait for the next group and give you an update. Dennis and myself were walking up here, very emotional, crying our eyes out at about 7 o'clock this morning...

Second Summit Dispatch

Ok, I will try to pick up again with this. Dennis, Charlie, Larry, George, Paul, John, Angie and myself came up to the summit together. Just behind us are Bryan and the birthday girl Laurie, with three Chagga guides, as well as Julie, Michael and Sharon. Some of us are beginning to descend because it is windy and cold. I am going to stay here on the top and keep you updated.

We are having a really emotional time at the top. As I described, Dennis and I walked up here together, really crying our eyes out. Larry and I were talking about Jim Lister as we came to the top, who is, right now, back in Canada and we know is with us, we are thinking of him as well.

We are busy trying to get our photo op up here. George is taking a Newfie photo at the top of the African sign, and of course Angie was up here with her Calgary Flames top for her photo at the top. Just before those guys left, John took out a photo of Jim Allen, and he and I photographed that and we put on a special place here at the top of Kilimanjaro. I am going to close now. I still have radio contact with the Chagga guides, and Bryan and Laurie, who are coming up just not far behind me, and Julie, Michel and Sharon, who are trying to reach Stella Point, the Crater Rim, at this point as the sun comes up. Great effort on everyone's part, and an exceptionally strong statement for the cause for ALS. We are all here for our friends and family back home. It is going to be an experience that is going to stay with this group for years and years to come. Thanks for the support from everyone back in Canada.

Third Summit Dispatch

OK, this is Wally Berg again, and it is just about 8am and I got an update for you. Laurie and Bryan and their Chagga guides just reached the summit, and it's a wonderful, very powerful emotional time here. They are starting down on their descent following the others. There is no way I can tell you how many people we are trying to honor up here, the individuals we are giving thoughts to, but I should try to take it a little bit further. When Laurie was here, she left a pen and some other mementos in a special place here where we are leaving some things. For www.als.independence.com, the website, there is a long list of people - I know many of you are watching this, and each and everyone of you were honored up here today by Laurie and all the others.

There was a beautiful little saying on a laminated sheet along with the pen that Laurie left that said, "In memory of those who've climbed the mountain and those who are still climbing." I think that sums up our spirit and our thoughts here today as well as anything.

I am still at Uhuru Peak, still on radio contact with the three climbers who are still coming; that's Julie, Sharon, Michel and they've got three Chagga guides with them. They are still pushing, and I am going to be here, hoping that they make all the way. If not, I know that they have at least made it to Stella Point and they are at the Roof Top of Africa, and they are probably enjoying the view and they are really proud of their accomplishment. We will keep you posted in the coming hours as to how the other climbers are doing, and I will let you know when we all get back down to base camp safely.