The Mount Kenya “My Everest Challenge” by Adventure Alternative (Kenya) Staff.

Sponsor the Mt Kenya “My Everest Challenge” today : http://www.justgiving.com/ot_and_kioni

Moving Mountains in Kenya has been very successful over the last twenty years. Long before the official registration of the Charity in the UK, Ireland, Kenya and Nepal there was still many projects and people supported. They were supported by Gavin personally and with the help of his friends. The original beneficiaries were young children who are now educated and responsible young adults and inspirations to the current young children which the charity supports. These young children also needed guidance from adults within their own communities and now the original Kenyan mentors and the original Kenyan children what to give back to the charity which helped turn their lives around and gave them hope, family and a future.

Therefore following a trip to Ireland in January a plan was hatched to facilitate this ambition! Whilst Gavin is climbing Mt Everest the Kenyan team will be climbing the highest peak in Kenya and the 2nd highest peak in Africa, Mt Kenya! The team are all well known to Adventure Alternative clients and Moving Mountains supporters who have travelled to Kenya over the years. For most of them a climb of the mountain is a massive challenge due to the terrain, weather, altitude and the religious aspects of the mountain!

4 teams will undertake this “My Everest Challenge” made up as below :

Team 1 : Kelly Kioko & Gilbert Njeru (pictured below)

Kelly Kioko is a shining example of what can be achieved with the correct support network being in place. Kelly met Gavin when he was just a small boy living rough on the streets. He lived with a gang of boys who begged and stole for survival. One day Kelly attempted to pick pocket Gavin who caught him and then educated and mentored him. Kelly is now the Director of Gavin’s Kenyan company Africampers. He is a wonderful young man and an inspiration to all of the children which Moving Mountains supports.

 Gilbert – also unofficially known as the King of Embu runs all of the Moving Mountains projects in the Embu region. Again a selfless person who’s ambition in life is to positively impact on those struggling around him. Gilbert looks after lots and lots of children in the Rescue Centre in Embu and also the teachers, medical students and other visitors such as Moving Mountains supporters who work in the region. He is a man who is a guiding and mentoring light for so many wonderful but unfortunate children.

Team 2 :  Jackton Otieno (OT) & Francis Kioni (Pictured below)

 Francis Kioni grew up in the slums of Kibera, Africa’s largest slum. Kioni has been involved with Gavin for many years initially as a fundi (builder) on our projects. Gavin soon recognised that Kioni was a very gifted man. He is visionary and has a heart of gold. His is a selfless man who has been vital in the development of Moving Mountains, its projects and is a wonderful mentor and father figure for all of the beneficiaries.

Jackton Otieno, known as OT is described by the Kenyans as a cartoon as there really is no man on earth quite like him! OT is Gavin’s vehicle fleet manager in Kenya and has the most infectious laugh which quite often erupts at the most inappropriate time! He is loved by all the Adventure Alternative clients and Moving Mountains supporters. Then in Kenya, no matter where in the country you are, you’ll find people spotting the Adventure Alternative overland truck all shouting OT OT OT! He is well known and liked everywhere he goes and is loved by all the children supported by Moving Mountains who he teaches mechanics to. OT has never been on Mt Kenya for two reasons 1) He can’t get his beloved truck up there! 2) He fears going near the summit as the God that is meant to live there is not from his tribe!

Team 3 :  Rosie Gathirimu & Everline Adhiambo (Pictured Below)   

 Rosie Gathirimu has been involved with Moving Mountains for many years. Rosie has been educated by the charity and is now a fully qualified councillor. She used to run her own street kid rehabilitation program under the wing of Moving Mountains and now heads up the charity in Kenya. She manages everything from making sure the kids have pencils for school and food in their tummies to making sure large scale construction projects are successfully completed. She has a wonderful smiling personality and is very popular with all the beneficiaries of the charity. She mentors all of the kids and knows each one personally and cares for them as if they were her own. For so many of the children she is now their mum.

Everline Adhiambo’s background is typical of modern day Kenya. She found herself being brought up in a Nairobi orphanage due to her Mum having no means of feeding or supporting her. Moving Mountains stepped in and assisted Everline with her education. Everline also lived at our Ulamba Orphanage home in Western Kenya where she again acted as a mentor to all our children in the home. She is now training as a Tourism Guide and will soon be working for Gavin’s tour company in Kenya. She has a beautiful and caring personality and is a real inspiration for all the children involved with Moving Mountains. The mountain is a big challenge for her but we’re sure that her personality will get her to the top!

Team 4 - Maurice Odindo & Wyclif Odongo

Maurice Odindo is the Western Kenya advisor and mentor for Moving Mountains. He is a large man in stature with a humble and dedicated approach to the children whom he works with. He is a gentle giant who tirelessly dedicates his life to bettering those around him. Moving Mountains has developed massively in Western Kenya and all this has been thanks to his work on the ground and guidance. Again Maurice is no mountaineer! He has never been higher than Nairobi at 5500ft and like OT fears the god called Ngai who lives on Mt Kenya. This will be a real challenge for him!

Wycliff Odongo is relatively new to the Moving Mountains and Adventure Alternative team. Odongo started working for us as a house boy about six years ago in our house in Western Kenya. At this time Odongo, aged 18 had never travelled outside of his village! Kisumu, Kenya’s third biggest city after Nairobi and Mombasa is only 45 min up the road but Odongo had never seen a building higher than two stories! Since that time Odongo has travelled his country extensively and worked tirelessly with all of the charities projects and in country visitors. He is also a beneficiary of the charity which is currently educating him.

Specifically sponsor the Mt Kenya “My Everest Challenge” teams today by clicking on the Moving Mountains Logo Below :