Climbing Africa’s highest peak to support the Desjardins Foundation

People who push their limits in support of a worthy cause deserve to be celebrated for their dedication. The Desjardins Foundation is fortunate to have enthusiastic supporters who raise big money to help young people reach their full potential. We’re profiling two remarkable fundraisers that have received lots of support and are an inspiration for anyone thinking about raising money for a worthy cause. The first one is a group of eight women—the “Kiligirls”—who set their sights on Mount Kilimanjaro.

Some people move mountains. Others, through hard work and determination, accomplish an equally impressive feat—climbing them! 

“The thing we had in common, right from the start, was a desire to push ourselves,” said Nathalie Tremblay. She was the driving force behind the project and also happens to be the General Manager of Caisse du Complexe Desjardins.

The women also knew they wanted to use the expedition to raise funds for the Desjardins Foundation. “That was crystal clear. We’re fortunate to have a closeup look at all the work the Foundation is doing. So we were all behind the idea of helping young people succeed. The Foundation helped us organize the fundraising aspect, right from day one. And that was key,” said Louise Bergeron, Vice-President of Director Support and Caisse Governance. In addition to the Desjardins Foundation, the group also wanted to support the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation

So how do you sum up an experience like climbing Kilimanjaro? “I try to describe it to people, but it’s not quite the same as actually doing it,” said Louise, with a chuckle. 

You can’t climb a mountain like Kilimanjaro on a whim. It takes a lot of planning. And setbacks are inevitable. The group got together 5 years ago, but they had to put their plans and training on hold during the pandemic. They did a number of climbs in Quebec, in the US and even in Ecuador to make sure they were up to the challenge. 

Then came the moment of truth—Kilimanjaro. Nathalie recalled the group’s team spirit, the kind welcome they received from their hosts in Tanzania and the remarkable skill of their guide and everyone who helped them along the way. But all the preparation in the world couldn’t prepare them for the intensity of the final ascent, some 6 days into the climb. They set out in the middle of the night in hopes of reaching the peak at sunrise.

“You lose your perception of time and space. All you can see are the feet of the person in front of you,” said Louise. “Dawn started to break 45 minutes before we reached the top. It was unforgettable. I could see the moon on the left and the stars on the right. The sun was starting to rise and the sky was beginning to turn orange. It was just magnificent.”

When they reached the peak, they only had time to take a few pictures before heading back down. And the descent is a lot more challenging than you might think. “You can’t stay at the top for long because there’s a risk of brain swelling,” Nathalie said.

The fundraiser was a resounding success. It raised a total of $200,000 for the two organizations. The two climbers also share another dream: “It would be amazing if we could organize a second climb of Kilimanjaro with another group of 8 women to support the Desjardins Foundation. Actually, it would be great it we could make it an annual thing!"