Quest to conquer Kilimanjaro
AFTER months of preparations, the Trek4Mandela expedition has finally left for Tanzania yesterday in an effort to conquer Africa’s highest point, Mount Kilimanjaro.
The 23 climbers left OR Tambo International Airport for Tanzania, where they will start their climb tomorrow.
The climb is in honour of former president Nelson Mandela and to raise funds to buy sanitary pads for girls, so that they don’t stay away from school because they are menstruating.
The founder of Imbuba Foundation, Richard Mabaso, said they hope to support 350 000 girls through the campaign. He hopes to reach two million girls by 2020.
One of the people on the expedition is fitness fanatic, Letshego Zulu, who could not finish the climb last year after her husband Gugu died following health complications. She is going on the expedition this year in honour of Gugu.
“I am excited to go on this trip to honour the life of my late husband. I look forward to the energy on Friday morning. It will be one filled with many emotional moments and I will take it all in my stride.”
Zulu thanked South Africans for supporting her after Gugu died.
“I am excited as I have personally shared the passion Richard Mabaso has. (It’s) a pleasure to be standing here and spreading the word,” she said.
Awande Dlamini, from Independent Media, said the Million Comforts campaign aims to collect 10 million sanitary pads by Sunday. So far the campaign had collected 4 million.
“When we established the Million Comfort campaign, we wanted to give young girls the opportunity to finish school without worrying about their menstrual cycle,” she said.
Expedition leader Sibusiso Vilane, with 15 years mountain climbing experience, equated the trek with “going to war”.
Vilane said the team will have all the support they need including a doctor. “To the climbers, it will not be easy. To the parents and friends we are leaving here; be patient with us and pray for us. We will do all in our power to take care of family and friends.”
Sello Hatang from the Nelson Mandela Foundation said: “Today is about legacies. Legacies
It is not only through social grants that we can solve our problems
have to outlive those who helped build them.
‘‘There are more male climbers than women and this is important because, for patriarchy to fall, men must be at the centre of campaigns like these.”
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi, who attended the send off, said it was only through commitment that barriers could be broken. “We will make sanitary towels of about 1 million available at our schools.
‘‘It is not only through social grants that we can solve our problems.”
To make a donation, go to http://www.trek4mandela. com/ and follow the journey on social media #Trek4Mandela #GirlChild