​  Athlete, Philanthropist

When Alison first climbed Kilimanjaro, in 2004, she also took time to visit Amani (Swahili for Peace), a home for street kids in Moshi, Tanzania.

Determined to raise money for homeless children in Africa, she established Friends of Amani Canada and formed The Brave Hearts, a group of “40-something” mothers who wanted to give themselves an ultimate physical challenge. The Brave Hearts proudly raised the Amani flag on Uhuru peak, the 19,341-foot summit of Kilimanjaro. Two days later, they presented a cheque for $61,000 (to the Director of Amani (another $20,000 was raised later).

It was a fitting peak to a trip characterized by “womanhood at its finest”.