Kenya 2024

Jambo!

I went to Kenya in Sept, 2024 to help with the cancer community as part of the AFC Elevate Program. We a group of cancer survivors from North America and we spent 2 weeks with cancer survivors in Kenya. 

It was an incredible experience that has changed me and I will forever cherish. ​
Selected videos
Singing Gord Downie's Courage. Not sure if drinking the Tusker beer beforehand helped my voice or not!
My letter to Gord in the Toronto Star.
While in Kenya, I talked about my experience at BC Cancer after my diagnosis.
My first encounter with an elephant since the powerful dream I had of an elephant speaking to me during treatment 20 years ago.
Meeting a pair of ostriches on a safari. The black one in front is a male. Nairobi National Park.
Having just arrived in Eldoret and on the way to meet the AFC team.
At Creative Hive in Elderot where they make clothes and various accessories for local cancer community.
I got a bad flu in Nairobi and so joined the group in Elderot later. I received a wonderful greeting when I arrived!
Dancing to beautiful Kenyan tribal music.
I decided to join in and experience the dance!
Picture
I arrived in Nairobi a few days before the program started to explore a little bit on my own. I immediatley realized that it was a stunning place, the people, the culture, the scenery, the food, and the animals--fell in love with the country right away! Oh, and the beer too! 

​We spent time in Nairobi and Elderot. During our time together, folks from North America along with locals, all of whom have been through the cancer experience, met other others dealing with cancer. We toured various places soaking in the beautiful culture.

One day that stands out for me was the MIzizi ("roots") workshop in a poor neighborhood in Nairobi. It was for helping participants touched by cancer to gain access to tools and frameworks for increasing emotional awareness and building resilience, while having the opportunity to connect with others in their community affected by cancer. In the last couple days of our trip we did various presentations at the Africa Summit to the larger cancer community in Nairobi.

FYI, Jambo means 'hello' in Swahili, a friendly greeting.
Selected photos from trip
Video about our trip created by Lynn R from our AFC team
Great video that captures our amazing experience.
The Writers Studio Reading April 28, 2025
A short talk about part of my experience on this trip (click image).
Photos from a couple safaris in Nairobi National Park
Art from various places along the trip
Note: Most photos and video were taken by myself or someone capturing me unless otherwise stated.