Mulcahy: An African safari and trip down memory lane

As a child, I thought all parents were alike, only later realizing I won the lottery with mine — two people dedicated to helping the less fortunate.

Sandy Mulcahy, known globally as “Mama Sandy,” overcame losing her mother at 7 during World War II to become a devoted community leader. A University of Texas graduate and 60-year Arlington, Texas, resident with a seasonal home in Basalt, she’s led as president of Chi Omega Alumnae, taught Bible Study Fellowship for 25 years, and currently teaches adult Sunday school while serving as historian for the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra League. She received the 2015 Ruby Award in Education from Christian Women’s Job Corps.

In 2012, she and her late husband, Bud, co-founded Africa Water Wells, a ministry supporting Kenyan communities — often written about in Colorado and Texas. Africa Water Wells’ eight team trips provided women’s life skills training, men’s teaching enhancement, a rehab center, Khan Academy’s RACHEL-Pi for offline education computer labs for students, and free medical exams and medicine.

The ministry has drilled 17 water wells for schools and hospitals and trained rural families in clean water filter systems. Sandy’s book, “Into Africa,” recounts how a 50th anniversary safari sparked this transformative work, available for check-out at the library.

Please join me for a brief talk about Sandy’s journey this Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in the Dunaway Room at Aspen’s Pitkin County Library.

For less than the cost of an Aspen ski lift ticket, a filter can provide Kenyan families with a million gallons of clean water for 20 years. For $10K, the price of a fancy Aspen lunch at Cloud 9 for some, one can dedicate a water well at Kipkelion Special Needs School, Moi Minaret Boys School, or for the 1,156 students at Chebirbelek Secondary to one’s family or a loved one.

I promise one of the highlights of an African safari trip will be experiencing the gratitude of the Kenyans by attending an unforgettable well dedication ceremony at your chosen school.

Lee Mulcahy

Basalt