Climbing for a cause

Here and NOW column by Dan Hilborn, Burnaby NOW assistant editor
Published Aug. 11, 2002

When Dave and Charu Gadhia decided to make a return visit to the country they left nearly three decades ago, they wanted the trip to be more than just a simple vacation - they wanted it to have meaning.
So this week, when the Burnaby couple begin climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in their native Kenya, they'll be doing so on behalf of the Alzheimer's Society of British Columbia.
"Charu and I were both born in Kenya and moved to Canada in 1977 and 1972 respectively. We haven't been back since," said Dave, who is best known as the president of Gateway Casinos. "When we heard about Ascent, we felt we had found an event that could, in every sense, make going home worthwhile."
The cause is known as the Ascent for Alzheimer's, and, in the five years since the program began, a total of $750,000 has been raised for Alzheimer research.
They're not the first people from Burnaby to join the climb, either. Last year, local investment advisor Eric Muir joined Normanna rest home director Arif Padamshi in calling the Burnaby NOW newspaper from near the peak of the tallest mountain in Africa.
If things go according to plan, the Gadhias will be the second group of climbers to call this newspaper from near the peak of the mountain.
According to those who know, people who reach the summit of Kilimanjaro (19,340 feet) can actually see the curvature of the earth as the sun rises over the African plain.

FIRST OKTOBERFEST PAGEANT DRAWS BURNABY RESIDENT

Tonight (Sunday, Aug. 11) is a big night for Burnaby resident Jasmine Rose Alexander, one of 12 contestants in the First Annual West Coast Miss Oktoberfest Pageant taking place at the Plaza Nightclub on Granville Street.
The 22-year-old Alexander is currently doing a double major in English and psychology at UBC, and is well-known for her years of volunteer service with the local St. John Ambulance brigade.
She is an accomplished contemporary freestyle dancer and is comfortable wearing ballet slippers.
The winner of the Vancouver event will head to Kitchener- Waterloo later this year to compete in the North American Miss Oktoberfest Pageant.

CADET KUDOS

A pair of local cadets were recently honoured for their achievements at the Albert Head Air Cadet Summer Training Centre on Vancouver Island.
Vivian Churchill-Browne was honoured with a top course cadet award after completing the introduction to leadership program, along with 67 other members of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. Jackson Chu also picked up a top course cadet award after he completed the demanding three-week physical education and recreation training course among a group of 23 cadets.
Chu and Churchill-Browne are members of the 637 Arrow Squadron RCAC, which trains out of the South Burnaby Legion #83 during the winter months.

TOPS IN TAPS

Congratulations are in order for some fancy-footed young people from Burnaby who won major prizes at the recent Canadian national dance championships at the Massey Theatre.
Vanessa Fong took first place in the 11-12 year solo tap dance competition, and earned the right to represent our country at the world championships in Germany this November. Braden Fong, a member of Da' Boyz tap dance troupe, won the under-10 tap group competition. The Fongs both studied with the Vancouver Tap Dance Society.