Posted: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 03:10 PM - 12,103 Readers

By: Dustin Blanchard

Melinda Osburn's quest to raise the profile of the  Lakeway / Lake Travis Rotary Club took her to new heights.

When the city's strict sign ordinance  got in the way, she went a different route: to the top of Africa.

"We don't have a sign up in Lakeway that says 'Lakeway / Lake Travis rotary club is here,'" said Osburn. "So it has given us awareness."

Since January, Osburn and her family have hiked for hours around Lakeway, sometimes twice a day, all to prepare for the climb.

Osburn says it took a cause, the club and it's project to bring clean water to Belize , to keep her going.

"Just knowing each step I took that one more family might have potable water and have their children have access to potable water," Osburn said. "To know these people can watch their children grow and thrive. that's amazing."

Osburn said she hopes to raise $2000, which will be matched with another $10000, for Belize.

"Belize is a doable project ," she said.

Osburn's husband Tim had climbed Kilimanjaro before. He said having a cause is essential.

"If you know if you can obtain this goal, great things will happen, it just uplifts you," said Tim Osburn.

Even with Belize on her mind, Osburn said the climb was brutal.

"That last night of summiting in the dark was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life," she said.

The 19,340 foot climb took the Osburns six days.

"The last 1000 feet I felt so wonderful, I knew my family was going to obtain the goal," said Tim Osburn. "I was going to be there with them."

"You get up there and the sun's rising. The moon is setting. You see cloud cover down below. The wind stops," Melinda added. "It is just energizing. It is absolutely amazing."

*  Story Contributed by: Dustin Blanchard