2012 Chandler Mountain Challenge

I want to express my sincere appreciation for all the funds raised to help children affected and/or infected by AIDS in Africa through the 2012 Chandler Mountain Challenge.  We are so grateful to every single climber who climbed to raise funds for these kids.  Also, we’d like to thank Horsepens 40, the Howard Schutlz Family, Ascension Climbing and the Robertson Family and all the members of SRCFC for their commitment to the event, as well as for making the day special.

Thanks to everyone’s generosity, AFCA will provide:

1.       260 bunnies

2.       300 chicks

3.       100 packets of seeds

4.       200 HIV testing kits

5.       20 water filters for clinics

Without counting the water filters, 650 children will be affected by the generosity all all involved in the Challenge.  The bunnies, chicks and seeds will help children become self-reliant, as they receive training on how to grow their flocks, how to budget, how to care for animals, etc.  The seeds are for their gardens – between the seeds and the manure from their animals, the gardens grow nicely and the children end up with better meals.  The water filters will be placed in 16 small clinics in rural Congo, with an additional four being used at Tandala Hospital.  These will decrease the number of water-borne pathogens locals drink, thereby reducing the number of children and adults visiting the clinics for these illnesses.

We love what was accomplished and look forward to next year’s Challenge!

Peepsie Makes It To The Roof of Africa

Eric W is climbing with the Nike team and he took his daughter Julia (Juju)'s stuffed duck with him so she could see he was thinking of her.  Here is Peepsie, ready for the last leg of the journey and finally, soaking in the rays at the very top of Africa.  Juju is SO proud of her dad - this is the second time he summits for children affected and infected by AIDS.  Well done, Eric and team!! 

First Day of Climb

For those of us that didn't sleep last night, a steady rain met with a massive downpour were there for company....as well as chickens starting at 2am.


The rain isn't exactly the best thing for us as we start the first day ascending through the mountain forest. We're having conversations about which boots we should wear today knowing that this pair will be wet the entire trip. We're in good spirits, though, because the more suffering we endure, the more epic the story will be at the end!

Leaving camp we had planned to drive to the trailehead but the mud from the rain isn't letting the trucks in, so we have to hike to them. This simply means walking through the village we toured yesterday. The kids there love us despite not having any candy or pencils to pass them. Ben from our team, who still hasn't received his bags from the airline...hiking in hot chilis, spent half the day chasing the kids around with a single word of "buaaaa" yelled outloud. The kids loved it. Not sure if they were more afraid of him or his hot chilis from the 80,s, though! Now they are running up to us saying "buaaaa" instead of hello which was their greeting yesterday.

Again, the food was great this morning. All of us ae over eating fresh fruit, fresh bread, delicious orange cake, homemade peanut butter, local honey from "killer bees", butter from local cows, eggs from local chickens, bacon from....not sure, but all good. We are full and ready to climb 3000 feet today....and hopefully, get through the cloud layer.

Eric O.

Gear Check!

After a cup of organic Tanzanian coffe and fresh fruit, eggs, and bread for breakfast and a morning of hiking and resting (and John running with Simon - the world record holder for the quickest ascent up Kilimanjaro), the team is now going through gear check.  This is to ensure that they have everything they need, that the items they have are in good condition, and that they are all packed and ready to start their climb tomorrow morning.  Tents are being aired out, as well as sleeping bags and pads.  The crew is excited to get going and are making sure every detail is being looked after. 

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.

Charlotte, Here we Come

I am so excited about the events in Charlotte this November! Planning is already underway for "Eat to Live!" (Saturday, November 6th) which invites the public out to sample food from Charlotte's best restaurants - some of which are event getting on board with the African theme and putting their spin on African dishes. The best African dish will be awarded the "Eat to Live Award" (for bragging rights, and a little PR). The event will also include an African drumming circle (thanks to One Neighborhood - http://www.one-neighborhood.org) raffles and an auction of some fine merchandise. It's going to be such a fun night of raising awareness and funding for AFCA. I can't wait to see what else will be in store as we continue the planning of Eat to live!

We're also working with Inner Peaks Climbing Center (http://www.innerpeaks.com)for an evening of climbing, competitions, prizes and hopefully a special guest or two. This event will take place on Saturday, November 7th. What a cool group of people at Inner Peaks, they are as excited about it as we are! Last year, the Charlotte team did such an amazing job with Inner Peaks, we decided to make it an official event!

We'll be keeping you posted on this and other events. If you're in the Charlotte area, we hope to see you on the 6th or 7th of November. If not, go ahead and register for an event that you can participate in wherever you are!

www.climbupsokidscangrowup.com

See you at the top.
CUSKCGU

Climb Up the 50 Dates

The dates have been set for Climb Up The 50! What is Climb up the 50? Hikers and climbers from each of the 50 states will climb to their highest peak to show that we are united in fighting AIDS. These individuals and teams will also raise funds for the AFCA by having friends, family and co-workers sponsor them and their climb. All proceeds will go to American Foundation for Children with AIDS and help children in Africa who are suffering from this deadly disease by providing them with medication, food and supplies that they desperately need.

This year, the climb is from May 23-31. Memorial day finds itself within that time frame and we hope that the holiday will be to our advantage in acquiring participants.

If you would like to sign up for Climb Up the 50 and represent your state, please visit www.climbupsokidscangrowup.com and fill out the application. If you have questions, please contact Kendra at 717-798-8335.

Current Sponsors

Counting on companies for sponsorships and donations in times like these is no easy task. I find myself talking to more and more people about the economy and cut-backs, the dedication to environmental issues alone or the dedication to help people that need assistance in their home country. We are just one of many organizations calling on them for help and support. Times are hard right now and everyone has the right to set limitations on their giving. One company can't do it all. Of course, we too, care about the envoirnment and people that need help in our own backyards. Many of us give to other organizations out of our own pockets that do just that.

But this is the battle that we choose to fight. And we're going to continue our dedication to those that are counting on us. Those that need us to survive... to have a future. Because they may be across the ocean, but the way we look at it, we live in one world. And these are our children too.

However, companies like Adventure Medical Kits, Anhu Footwear, Larabar, and Merrell have been just some of the first to sign on, and we are looking forward to seeing more companies like them join the fight against HIV and AIDS in Africa. Because we are a small, grass-roots organization, we count on companies and organizations like them to feel the spirit of what we are doing and help out in any way that they can and we are grateful for their support. We are looking forward to seeing more companies like them come on board in 2009.

And because they share your concern and dedication to the AFCA, consider supporting these companies as well. If you need a product or serve that they offer, visit them first. Just something to think about...

We will have a full list of sponsors on the site soon, check back for more information on who is backing us up and giving us the opportunity to do more than we could do alone.

If you or your company would like to become a sponsor, please contact us. We would love to have you as part of our team.

Call today to find out more about donations and sponsorships - 717-798-8335

Welcome!

Welcome to the blog for Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up! We will be posting information on our events, sponsors, participants, news and more. We may even have some "guest bloggers" stop by and share their thoughts.

By starting this blog, we hope that more people will join us this year in our fight to save the lives of children suffering from HIV & AIDS in Africa. It's easy, just register on www.climbupsokidscangrowup.com and talk to your family, friends, co-workers about sponsoring you. We make it easy by setting you up with your own fundraising page and giving you pointers on how to raise money for the AFCA.

Prizes, you ask? Of course! Prizes will be given to those who raise the most in each event!

Did you know....
When you register for Climb Up the World (our staple event), you can participate wherever you are in the world? "Climb Up The World" happens the third weekend in September and you can climb, hike, run, walk, cycle from anywhere!

This year, we have included a new event - in Africa! Climb Up Kilimanjaro is a 10 day trip where you and 11 other team members will climb to Africa's highest point to help save the lives of children with HIV & AIDS. Interested? There are only 4 spots left on the team, so go to www.climbupsokidscangrowup.com to learn more and register!

Represent your state this summer in "Climb Up the 50"! One or more people from each state will climb to their highest peak this summer and show that we are united in fighting this deadly disease!

That's all for now. Thanks for stopping by, come back often (or why not subscribe to this blog to get more information as it comes?), share your thoughts and, of course, register for Climb Up 2009!