Taking on the challenge of a lifetime, eight dedicated individuals summited Mount Kilimanjaro — the world's highest freestanding mountain — with Team Fox, The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s (MJFF) grassroots community fundraising program, this summer and raised over $72,000 for Parkinson’s disease (PD) research. Here, Katie Casamassina and Ethan Henderson, MJFF staff members, share their reflections, capturing the highs, lows and unforgettable moments of their journey to the Roof of Africa. 

Katie: The Team Fox community has a special way of making you say yes to things you never thought possible. Our work every day is a reflection of the community we feel privileged to work for. None of us take this lightly. And when given the opportunity to literally walk alongside them and hear firsthand their experience with Parkinson’s disease, you just have to say yes. In mine and Ethan’s case, it meant lacing up our boots and summitting Mount Kilimanjaro this summer. 

Ethan: Our journey began on a sunny morning with eight climbers — four men with Parkinson’s and four women, most of us strangers. Each morning, we crawled out of our sleeping bags into the cool mountain air, and some days, we awoke in the clouds. By the second day, seeing Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance, I realized just how magical and daunting this journey would be.  

Katie: Our community does not take no for an answer — our experience on that mountain was no exception. Every day presented new challenges, both Parkinson’s-related and not. We got into a routine of looking out for and supporting one another. We communicated via thumbs up when talking got difficult. We quickly understood each other's facial expressions and knew what one another needed with just a glance. We used a cowbell to celebrate each milestone, big or small. 
 
Ethan: As we climbed higher, we faced physical challenges, trying to keep our balance on steep, rocky paths. Still, I took moments to slow down and absorb the breathtaking beauty around us, which helped me appreciate this remarkable journey. Nothing prepares you for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. You have to put your fears and worries away and become the mountain.

Katie: We saw other groups break off, leaving teammates behind. Not us. We stayed together every step of the way. Going pole, pole (slowly, slowly), ensuring that each of us arrived at the next camp safely. No questions asked.  
 
Ethan: After six days of hiking, summit night brought quieter voices at mealtime — nerves, excitement and wonder. At 15,000 feet above sea level, we only had our headlamps and the stars above us to light our way. For nearly six hours, we stared at the feet of the person in front of us.

Katie: While summiting, I wanted so badly to just take a break; my lungs were screaming, and every step felt like a battle. To keep myself going, I started taking each step for someone new. I thought of my seven fellow climbers, the incredible athletes I have the privilege of supporting and their reasons why they took the step to lace up with Team Fox. That determination kept me moving. 
 
Ethan: Our guides sang in Swahili, shouted words of encouragement and stood on the edge of a cliff to protect us from falling. The joy and musicality in their voices held so much promise for us. Then, magic happened — a razor-thin line of red peeked across the entire continent. Despite the snow and -20-degree winds, we paused to capture this unforgettable moment. A few hours later, we reached Uhuru Peak at 19,341 feet. Sometimes, teams need a pep talk, but what our team needed was to walk in silence to try and make sense of the extraordinary journey we just completed.

Katie: We left bonded, with only the eight of us truly understanding what we experienced on that mountain. 
 
Ethan: It still hasn’t fully sunk in what we did. Not only as individuals, but as a team.  
 
Katie: I celebrated my three-year anniversary at MJFF on that mountain and I could not help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude and love. Mount Kilimanjaro happened to be our mountain to climb, but we recognize mountains come in all shapes and sizes. I encourage you to tackle your mountain because I think you will be surprised with the outcome.  

Inspired by Katie and Ethan and want to lace up with Team Fox?