Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up 2010 Events

Now that 2010 is upon us, we at American Foundation for Children with AIDS are getting excited about this autumn's Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up events to raise awareness and funds to support children with AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa – Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, and Zimbabwe -- by providing life-saving medicine, nutritional support, humanitarian relief, and medical supplies/equipment to HIV+ children, their HIV+ guardians and HIV+ pregnant women.



Our four events are:

1. Climb Up the World – the third weekend in September, individuals and teams anywhere in the world are invited to climb, hike, cycle, or walk wherever they are.

2. Climb Up the 50 – during a ten-day window of opportunity in the Summer, individuals and teams will hike or climb to the highest peak in their state

3. Climb Up Kilimanjaro – 12 individuals will go to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania to climb the highest peak in Africa. They leave USA on September 11th, 2010

4. Climb Up in Charlotte – Inner Peaks Climbing Gym puts on a fabulous day of competition, raffles, yoga, massage, clinics, etc on the first weekend of November.

More information about all four Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up events is now available on our website, http://www.climbupsokidscangrowup.com.

Animoto.com

Hi, everyone,

There are two ways you can help raise funds for children with AIDS, at NO cost to you, and taking only 30 seconds of your time. The first is to click here and do a search for American Foundation for Children with AIDS. Then, vote. That is all you have to do. Well, then, please tell EVERYONE you know about this and ask them to vote. We have a chance at winning $25k for our kids…please help us. You only vote once during the first round of this competition, so it is really simple. This round ends on December 11th. Tell EVERYONE you know, especially your friends on Facebook. You can scroll to the bottom of the page and post the challenge information directly on your FB wall. Easy!

The other way for you to help is to vote every day (or as many times as you can) from now until February 28th at Good Earth. There, we are competing for $10,000. And, again, no money out from you and no need to receive spam mail from the donor. Good, huh?

Help us win, friends!

tanya

Back to USA

Thank you to each of the climbers who ventured out to Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro for the kids AFCA supports! We couldn't have asked for a better climbing company and are so proud to partner with Summit Expedition and Nomadic Experience (SENE)! I didn't hear a single negative thing from any of the participants and i certainly didn't have anything but wonderful experiences, either. My kids and I were treated exceptionally well, ate wonderfully and had a great time while waiting for the team to summit.

I hope that some of you reading this blog will decide to join us in 2010 for what is certainly going to be an annual event for AFCA. In January 2011, we will also have our first women's Kilimanjaro team, so sign up now!

Thanks to everyone who made this possible. without faithful donors and sponsors, the climbers, SENE, and countless others, it wouldn't have happened. Thanks for making a lifetime dream for the seven climbers become a life for the children we serve.

Tanya, on behalf of the kids

Climb Up Kilimanjaro Comes to an End

The climb up Kilimanjaro event is drawing to a close. It has truly been a wonderful life-changing event. After coming off the mountain, we spent another day on the SENE farm, recovering and thanking the many guides and supporters who made this event possible. It was a fun party and it was neat to have the opportunity to spend time together once again.

a HUGE thank you again to our many sponsors and donors. Without you, we wouldn't have made it!

This will be an annual event and registry is already open for 2010. Visit www.climbupsokidscangrowup.com or contact us for more information by calling 717.489.0206.

Thanks!

-Eric

A final word from Kilimanjaro

9/21

After a long day yesterday we finished the day at 12500ft. We ate supper and went straight to bed. Today is a new day, everyone slept well we ate breakfast and we were on our final descent by 8. We descented over 4000ft in 5 hours. Everyones knees have held up and there have been no injuries on our trip. We are heading back to the farm to clean up and eat.

A day after reaching the summit, I look back on the experience as one that was very very challenging. Yesterday, I said that I would never do this again. Today after I am rested I think it is something I would do again. Especially if I am doing it for a cause.

Thank you again to our many sponsors and for SENE for making this trip possible and for help raising awerness and funds for the american foundation for children with aids

-Eric

Kilimanjaro Update 8

9/20

Eric:

Today was summit day. We woke up at 11pm ate and we began our summit push at 12:15 am. We started out atb15000ft and our goal was to reach the tallest peak in africa. What a very difficult day and personally i don't think it is something i want to again.

Rena unfortunately was not able to make the summit because of the cold and exhaustion. It taxed the rest of us to the extreme as well. We finally all reached the summit (with wonderful guiding by SENE) at 8:15am. After a couple pictures we began our 3 hour descent. I am sure each team member has their own feelings about today, i am exhausted and can't say i had fun.