Kevin Cherilla
Co-Founder & Owner
Kevin has been an international mountaineer for over 20 years. Conquering the summit of Mt. Everest in 2007 was his greatest personal accomplishment. Since then, he’s made it his personal goal to change lives one adventure at a time—whether by scaling Everest, Kilimanjaro, Machu Picchu or Aconcagua. Kevin’s passion for climbing and helping others has even been passed on to individuals who are blind, paralyzed or have lost limbs. He “Enjoys the smiles on the faces of those we help both in the United States and around the world.”
His own adventure began when he wanted to have a bigger impact on people through his travel expeditions. Kevin was the expedition leader for 25 individuals, eight of whom were blind, on a climb to Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise awareness for people with disabilities. Kristen Sandquist was one of the guides on his team. The team broke four world records, raised over $200,000 for the blind in Arizona and assisted a local orphanage that housed 24 blind and albino children in Tanzania. After this historic climb in 2009, Kevin and Kristen joined forces to create K2 Adventures Foundation and K2 Adventure Travel, and they’ve been helping others around the globe ever since. Together, they run K2 Adventure Travel, which organizes voluntourism trips to Africa, Peru and Nepal.
Kevin has personally summited 5 of the 7 Summits, as well as led over 1,500 individuals safely to Kevin has personally summited 5 of the 7 Summits, as well as led over 1,500 individuals safely to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, guided tours through the Andes in South America and the Himalayas in Nepal. He has also led hundreds of clients across the Grand Canyon for the 25.5 mile Rim-to-Rim hike.
Kevin graduated from John Carrol University with a BS in Physical Education and received a master’s degree in Health Education from Case Western Reserve University. He is an international mountain guide and a certified NOLS Wilderness First Responder. He is also trained in CPR and First Aid.
Whether you’re looking for something inspirational, educational or motivational, K2 Adventure Travel Co-Founder Kevin Cherilla will deliver a presentation that is powerful and professional. To learn more about the types of presentations offered, please contact Taryn Borges at taryn@k2adventures.org for more details.
Kristen Sandquist
Co-Founder & Owner
Kristen is the CEO of K2 Adventures Foundation and co-founder of K2 Adventure Travel. The foundation is a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit, organization whose mission is to care for individuals with special needs and/or life changing medical circumstances in the United States and around the world. The travel company combines international hiking adventures with community service projects.
In 2009 her vision was ignited when she was one of the guides on Kevin Cherilla’s expedition to lead eight blind people up Mt. Kilimanjaro. The entire team made the summit and broke four world records, but the trip was historic for another reason. After visiting a local orphanage —Kristen and Kevin made the decision to co-found K2 Adventures Foundation, her third non-profit. The experience proved to be life changing. “I have fallen in love with the children in all of the countries we visit, as well as the challenges of leading the teams to their personal best.”
Since 2009, Kristen has made it her mission to offer individuals in the disabled community worldwide, adaptive, recreational opportunities and financial assistance through K2’s catalog of programs and awards.
Kristen has led over 1,500 individuals safely to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, as well as guided tours through the Andes in Peru and the Himalayas in Nepal. She has also led hundreds of clients across the Grand Canyon for the 25.5 mile Rim-to-Rim hike.
Kristen graduated from Arizona State University with a BA in Education and received a master’s degree in Education from Cardinal Stitch University. She is an international mountain guide and a certified NOLS Wilderness First Responder with a record breaking 20 plus summits of Mt. Kilimanjaro.