My Story

Hi! I'm Elizabeth Martin a post-grad student studying Psychology from Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Entering into a one-year masters program thanks to the Bobby Jones Scholarship, graduate school was never just about the classroom for me. This year has been about saying 'yes!' to once-in-a-lifetime experiences, fully embracing St Andrews, and leaning into the kind of challenges that shape who you become.

To support Dig Deep - an award-winning international development charity securing clean water, safe sanitation & good hygiene for the one million people of Bomet County, Kenya - I am taking on the challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak and the world's highest freestanding mountain!

As many of you know, I have a deep love and appreciation for the outdoors and hiking, rooted in the time I spent with my family in Montana. Beyond the Rockies, I've tackled treks across the Appalachian trail, White Mountains, Scottish Highlands, and the Amalfi Coast! Mt. Kili is truly in a league of it's own, and I am ecstatic to pursue this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

Here's a bit more about what exactly the St Andrews team is fundraising for. Famous for producing Olympian runners and world-class coffee and tea, Bomet is also a place where two out of three people lack clean water, safe sanitation & good hygiene. As a result, waterborne disease remains one of the leading killers of children under five. Beyond the immediate health crisis, time lost to sickness and the long walks to fetch water mean children miss school and parents lose vital income. And the burden falls heaviest on women and girls. 

To change this, Dig Deep is working hand in hand with local communities, business, and the Kenyan government to serve Bomet's one million people - half of whom are children. With countless charitable initiatives competing for attention and funding, Dig Deep sticks out for its verifiable, decade-long track record of ethical, locally-led impact. Dig Deep was founded in 2007 through a collaboration between Kenyan women's rights activist and UN Person of the Year Agnes Pareyo, and founders Jo Zeevi-Green and Pete Fitzsimmons. The three of them established relationships on the ground, which catalyzed relationships with the Kenyan government, local businesses, and communities to build infrastructure that is locally owned, well-maintained, and built to last. Together, they are determined to ensure every child and their family gain lasting access to clean water, safe sanitation & good hygiene. For more information visit www.digdeep.org.uk

My overall fundraising target is £2990, but of course, I'd love to exceed this and really crush it for Dig Deep and the St Andrews team! Every £1 invested in clean water generates between £4 and £8 in broader returns through improved health, productivity and education outcomes, keeping girls in school, freeing women from hours of daily water collection, and reducing preventable illness. 

Of the £2990 goal, 50% supports transforming access to water, sanitation and good hygiene in Bomet County, Kenya, and the other
50% goes towards my expedition costs (not including flights or gear, I am paying for these myself!). Additional money raised all goes to Dig Deep. 

If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me via email. I am also open to promoting companies, causes, or products that align with this climb or Dig Deep’s mission. If you or your organization is interested in partnering, supporting, or sponsoring, contact me directly at [email protected]. 

I also accept venmo payments @elizabethmartin67

Any support to help this initiative is greatly appreciated, thank you!