Vernon charity director fundraising to reduce world hunger one garden at a time

Sep 13, 2021 | 7:00 AM

A Vernon resident will be running around the North BX Hills over the next week as his part for an upcoming fundraiser aimed at reducing poverty.

James Woller, executive director of the charity Thrive For Good, is training for Thrive on Kilimanjaro, a virtual and live event with a goal to raise $500,000 – enough to plant 5,000 Life Gardens.

Thrive on Kilimanjara (submitted video/YouTube)

Between September 17 – 23, participants can virtually join worldwide to help reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro by climbing stairs, hiking, walking, or running. This will coincide with an in-person climb of Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, by 68-year-old Dale Bolton, the co-founder of Thrive and Natural Calm Canada.

Dale and Linda Bolton. Dale will be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. (submitted photo)

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“I climbed Kili in 2008,” said Woller, “so I won’t be going on the trip. However, in solidarity, I will be running 70 kms in the North BX hills of Vernon during the week of Sept 17-23 while the Thrive team is on Kilimanjaro. I will have my kids join me on their bikes.”

James Woller climbs Mt. Kilimanjaro (Submitted photo)

Founded in 2008 to help eradicate extreme poverty, Thrive for Good is a Canadian nonprofit that provides teaching and support for communities to grow Life Gardens.

A Life Garden is an organic, bio-intensive garden intentionally cultivated to grow the most nutrient-dense foods and natural, medicinal plants. It is typically a quarter acre of about 40, 100 sq ft double dug garden beds where communities can grow healthy, organic, disease-fighting foods, including spinach, kale, onions, garlic, carrots, and natural medicines.

Thrive has worked in eight countries, impacting nearly 800 communities and 75,000 individuals, empowering them with the knowledge and skills they need to grow their own health.

Woller was drawn to Thrive as he had never seen a sustainable solution to ending poverty with such a simple approach and low costs before.

“I still can’t wrap my head around the idea that for $15, someone can eat the healthiest food in the world, sustainably,” he said. “The power of Life Gardens has even transformed my personal life. I left the daily operations of my business to be part of this movement as we work to scale the impact so that all communities can be empowered to grow healthy nutritious food.”

With the support of sponsors, Thrive is offering prizes to participants, including an all-expense-paid trip to Kenya to see Thrive’s work in person.

If you are interested in joining the climb or learning more, visit www.thriveforgood.org.

by Pete McIntyre

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