Ted Tarrant's Bio

Ted Tarrant is a long-time Calgarian (30+ years) who really enjoys traveling and physical challenges. A runner and cyclist (as well as an IT consultant…have to pay the bills!), he feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit many different parts of the world and take on a number of challenges, including hiking the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island, cycling the west coast from Vancouver to San Francisco, doing a safari in Kenya and camping in the Saudi Arabian desert. Climbing Kilimanjaro has been a dream and goal of Ted’s since visiting Kenya in 1993.
He has been involved with the Artumas Group and the Artumas Africa Foundation over the past couple of years and is very excited to be able to realize a dream while helping disadvantaged people in Tanzania. As part of Ted’s employment with the Artumas Group, he was able to visit Tanzania several times in the past year and see first hand the challenges faced by its friendly and welcoming people. He feels that the challenge of climbing Kilimanjaro pales in comparison to what these people experience on a daily basis. Helping to provide children with an opportunity to get an education and achieve a better future is one of Ted’s main reasons for supporting the foundation.
And Ted thinks it would be really cool to drink a Kilimanjaro beer at the top of Kilimanjaro!

Heather Jones's Bio

Wow … as we get closer and closer to the date of our climb, the realization is setting in. WHAT HAVE I DONE?? Have I bitten off more than I can chew? Should I have my “head read”? Will I be able to complete this awesome challenge? I then take a deep breath and think (and start to get goose bumps) … what a truly great opportunity I have. Not only will I be climbing the highest peak in Africa, I have the chance to help improve the lives of so many people that are much less fortunate than I am. I was lucky enough to be born in Canada and have the many things that we all take for granted. Clean water, a beautiful home, a cupboard full of so much food that if I never went shopping for 6 months, I would still have something to eat.

As an employee of Artumas Group, I have had the opportunity to see first hand, the great work that the Artumas Africa Foundation has completed over the past few years. Now is my chance to get out from behind my desk and really help make a difference. The support of my family and friends is greatly appreciated and I would like to thank those that have already made a donation. It’s not too late though … if you have not made a donation, perhaps you would consider one now.

Asante (Thank you in Swahili)