14 Women Climb Kilimanjaro to Raise Funds for Children with AIDS
On October 4th, 14 women began a seven day trek on Machame Route to ascend the 19,340 feet of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Their goal was two-fold – reach the summit and raise awareness and funds for children with HIV/AIDS living in sub-Saharan Africa. Seven of the women reached the summit and collectively all the women raised over $85,000 for the American Foundation for Children with AIDS (AFCA).For most of the team, their journey began about nine months ago when they made the decision to climb. Tanya Weaver, Executive Director of AFCA was the first to commit. “I called my sister, Pilar Parry, and asked her if she’d climb Kilimanjaro with me. I was surprised when she quickly said yes.” Within a few days Pilar’s friend, Claudine Jones, and Tanya’s friend, Lori Fischer, joined the team. One by one Donna Naranjo, Maureen Vogel-Horowitz, Rachel Lauderbaugh, Amber Sorcek, Steph Warlow, Michelle Henry, Steph Hewitson, Colleen Agliotta, Betsy Dorsey and Shelly Hitz committed to the climb and a team was born.
The next few months were dedicated to training and fundraising. Each team member crafted their own training regimen, but everyone focused on cardio and endurance. Running, biking, swimming and hiking were popular choices. The last three months were the most intense as the women began training with weighted backpacks knowing that they would carry packs with 15-20 pounds of gear and hike six to eight hours a day with decreasing oxygen.
As for fundraising, Sorcek hosted a charity rock concert and sold donated items at a flea market. Hewitson and Fischer found fundraising help when their dad’s reached out to business associates. Agliotta’s elementary school students hosted “A Taste of Africa” and Dorsey’s children’s school hosted a dress down day. All the climbers creatively reached out to family, friends and colleagues to tell them about the millions of children in sub-Saharan Africa with HIV and to ask them to be givers of hope through a financial gift. Dollar by dollar, the women met their goals
Departure day, October 1, 2011, finally arrived. The team converged upon Kilimanjaro from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, and Germany excited and ready to climb. After a day of travel and a day of acclimatization at the base of Kilimanjaro, their climb began on October 4th.
The first day they hiked through tropical forest. Day two saw the vegetation shrink as they entered the Alpine Moorland Zone. As the climb ascended on day three, the vegetation quickly vanished into the Alpine Desert Zone. Days four through six the landscape was rocky and barren. The hardest day of climbing arrived on day six – summit day. Hitz explains, “We started climbing just after midnight. It was dark and cold. When you looked up, the only thing you saw was the pinprick of light from other climbers’ headlamps and those lights went up and up like a ladder into the sky. It made me wonder if we’d ever reach the peak.” Eventually dawn broke the horizon and a couple hours later seven of the climbers reached the summit. Three reached Stella Point which is about 500 feet below the summit. The other four climbers pushed as far and as high as their bodies allowed. Day seven brought the final descent and a celebration dinner
The climb was a success, especially for the children who will receive the medicine, the hospitals and clinics who will receive medical supplies and the children and families who will receive food because of the team’s dedication to climbing AND saving lives. So far, funds from this team have purchased medical supplies affecting 30,000 people in Papoli, Uganda; school supplies for 800 children in Papoli, Uganda; medical supplies affecting 170,000 people in Kilembe Mines, Uganda; 2,475,000 doses of antibiotics for children to keep full blown AIDS at bay in 35 clinics throughout Uganda; porridge, milk, and oil for 1600 children (twice daily) for 4 months in Mombasa and Voi, Kenya; and Nevirapine, an anti-retroviral drug for 500 children and mothers in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
If you would like more information about AFCA or Climb Up: Kilimanjaro or to make a donation to AFCA, go to www.AFCAids.org.
The American Foundation for Children with AIDS (AFCA) is a non-profit organization that provides life-saving medicine, medical supplies, medical training, nutritional support and humanitarian aid to children with HIV/AIDS and their caregivers. AFCA provides this aid through its partnership with hospitals, clinics, orphanages and schools in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe
Never Too Busy: Active Professional Finds Time to Help African Children with AIDS
A Passion for Altruism and Hiking Drives James Ryan Sloan to Participate in Climb Up So Kids Can Grow UpNew York City, NY June 13, 2010 – When asked to volunteer to help others many people might decline, but not Ryan Sloan. A busy financial services employee by day and Rutgers University MBA student at night, Ryan leapt at the chance to create his own fundraising event to fit his busy life: a June 26th hike to benefit The American Foundation for Children with AIDS (AFCA).
Designed to coincide with Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up, a special fundraising event focused on outdoor activities, Ryan’s fundraising hike will wind its way through Eastern New York’s Sam’s Point Preserve. While the hike is planned to be somewhat strenuous, much of the work involved will occur before setting foot on the trail; Ryan will be asking family, friends and coworkers to support his charitable effort by making a donation on his behalf to help African children with AIDS.
“When I saw the Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up website it instantly caught my attention” mentioned Ryan. “It marries two of my biggest passions: non-profit work and hiking.” Ryan has extensive experience in both; he has volunteered for organizations like the American Red Cross, God’s Love We Deliver and Summit for Someone, not to mention hiking 250+ miles per year and participating in clubs like Adventure Leadership Peer Support (ALPS) and the Adirondack Mountain Club.
Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up is a self-directed charity challenge, which means that participants can enjoy any activity they love in a location of their choice, while still helping others. Climb Up is focused on activities like hiking, climbing, running and cycling, however participants can adapt any event to help the event’s beneficiaries. In fact Ryan recently held a Happy Hour at a New York City bar to benefit the children that AFCA works to support.
“People like Ryan are a perfect fit for the type of flexible charity events we’ve created” explains Climb Up Event Manager Bill Rowland. “He has a very busy schedule, but still has a strong desire to help others. We created Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up to conform to the schedules of people like him. I’d just like to thank Ryan for his support and invite others create a challenge for themselves.”
Ryan Sloan’s hike will occur on June 26th at Sam’s Point Preserve in New Paltz, NY; those interested in supporting Ryan’s fundraising effort are invited to visit his safe and secure online fundraising page: http://firstgiving.org/ryansloan . Alternatively, people interested in creating their own even are invited to get more information at the event or organizational websites: http://www.ClimbUpSoKidsCanGrowUp.com or http://www.helpchildrenwithaids.org/
About Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up
Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up is a set of fundraising events created by The American Foundation for Children with AIDS to benefit African children with AIDS. Climb Up events are self-directed charity challenges created by businesses, groups and individuals. 100% of all funds generated from Climb Up events are converted into aid and delivered to partner agencies serving African children with AIDS. More information can be found at www.ClimbUpSoKidsCanGrowUp.com or www.HelpChildrenWithAIDS.orgTennessee Bouldering Authority to Fight AIDS June 25th
The Chattanooga Climbing Gym Will Host Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up, a Fundraising Event Benefiting African children with AIDS.
Chattanooga, TN (June 8, 2010) – The Tennessee Bouldering Authority (TBA) is excited to announce that it will be joining the fight against AIDS by hosting an event to benefit The American Foundation for Children with AIDS from 6 – 9pm on June 25, 2010. Known as Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up, the event will feature a competition, climb-a-thon and raffle to benefit African children affected by AIDS.
“TBA is a climbing community and we regularly support causes of all types.” mentioned Kasia Pietras, “We are excited to get the opportunity to combine one of our regular climbing comps with Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up. We’re planning an event that climbers of all skill and experience levels will enjoy.”
The Climb Up the 50 event should have something for everyone. Tennessee Bouldering Authority has 3,000 square feet of unadulterated steep bouldering plus a 55-degree steep monster of a wall with an intimidating and powerful finish which should create a good competition. There will be four levels of competition including Beginner (V0 – V2), Intermediate, Advanced and Open with prizes being awarded to the top 3 finishers in each category plus schwag for everyone. In addition, there will be other fundraising efforts such as a Climb-a-thon put on by TBA’s youth climbing team “The Ballers,” a bake sale and even a raffle.
“This event is going to be a great way to start off the summer for Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up” states Bill Rowland, Climb Up volunteer and Event Manager. It doesn’t hurt that TBA is an old hand at running good competitions. “We’re very grateful to TBA for hosting an event on our behalf. Most people would be surprised at just how much of an impact an event like this can have on the lives of children that really need the help.”
The Tennessee Bouldering Authority is more of a community than a gym and came from humble beginnings. Having originally shared its St. Elmo space with a company that constructed the carousel in Coolidge, TBA has continued to grow using a philosophy that promotes some of the best parts of rock climbing like community and pushing one’s limits. Every Climb Up participant should enjoy visiting such a gym.
Event Details
Date: June 25, 2010
Time: 6 – 9pm
Cost: $15
TBA Climb Up Event Webpage
Location:
3804 Saint Elmo Ave. Ste. 102
Chattanooga, TN 37409
(423) 822-6800
About Tennessee Bouldering Authority
TBA is Chattanooga’s first indoor bouldering and rock-climbing facility. Located near the Incline Railway in the historic St. Elmo neighborhood of Chattanooga, it has nearly 3,000 ft2 of world-class indoor rock climbing walls and dedicated training space. The gym offers the equipment, instruction, and support to ensure great rock climbing experiences for climbers of all skill levels. TBA is located at:
3804 Saint Elmo Ave. Ste. 102
Chattanooga, TN 37409
(423) 822-6800
http://tbagym.com/
About Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up
Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up is a set of fundraising events created by The American Foundation for Children with AIDS to benefit African children with AIDS. Climb Up events are self-directed charity challenges created by businesses, groups and individuals. 100% of all funds generated from Climb Up events are converted into aid and delivered to partner agencies serving African children with AIDS. More information can be found at www.ClimbUpSoKidsCanGrowUp.com or www.HelpChildrenWithAIDS.org
Contact Name:
Bill Rowland, Event Manager
Contact Telephone:
(717) 798-8335
Contact Address:
American Foundation for Children with AIDS
6221 Blue Grass Ave
Harrisburg PA 17112
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