Maria’s Kilimanjaro Challenge

MY GOAL

I will be attempting to climb the highest freestanding mountain in the world – Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, East Africa, in September 2013, in aid of the charity ‘Moviment Missjunarju Gesu’ fil-Proxxmu’ (Jesus in Thy Neighbour).

HOW DID THIS COME ABOUT AND WHY KILIMANJARO?

Where do I start with explaining the over-active imagination and endless life-pondering of a thirty-something? Actually, I won’t even try, but suffice to say that on a typical day-dreaming moment, I decided I must embark on one big life adventure – a challenge which will hopefully have an effect on my outlook on the world, imprinting life-long memories and a sense of having achieved something profoundly meaningful.

Remembering a friend expressing an interest in trekking along Kilimanjaro for charity, it suddenly hit me… YES! That’s exactly what I’ll do!

Having decided on the challenge, I half-heartedly suggested it to my best friend Pam, resigned to the fact that she’d probably much rather chill out in the Greek islands than trudge up a mountain! I could not believe my luck when she confirmed that, along with her 15-year old son Brad (the youngest participant from Malta ever to attempt Kilimanjaro), will be joining too. Needless to say, that took the excitement to a whole new level, and here we are, three musketeers, joining forces to take on this challenge, an experience which people tell us is going to change our lives.

THE CHALLENGE

The Kilimanjaro Challenge 7 (KC7) fits in perfectly with what I had in mind for my big adventure. A physical and mental challenge will bring a group of people together to raise funds to help some of the world’s poorest people, while having a laugh and sharing a truly unique experience. Each individual will have their own personal reasons why they would like to embark on this challenge, however, we are all united by one main aim which is to help fund a project to construct suitable housing for deaf, blind and physically-disabled children in Kenya.

While no technical expertise is required to trek up the 5,895metre (20,000 feet) high mountain, it will be no mean feat. A lot of training will be required in the run-up to it to be able to endure long hours of constant walking at high altitude, in extreme temperatures, strong-winds, and in rarefied (oxygen-deprived) air.

THE PROJECT AND THE CHARITY

Led by Fr. George Grima (Dun Gorg), a very well-known missionary in Malta, known for his lifetime dedication for helping the poor, particularly in providing education and housing to young children, under the charity ‘Moviment Missjunarju Gesu’ fil-Proxxmu’ (Jesus in Thy Neighbour), the project which KC7 is fund-raising for, will provide housing for some 100 deaf, blind and physically-disabled children in a village called Awasi in Kenya. This will provide better accommodation for 35 children who are currently living in condemned-facilities as well as house more children who are in desperate need for decent accommodation.

The budget for the project is €120,000 and KC7 will be responsible for collecting half of the required funds, ie. €60,000.

MY APPEAL TO YOU

A project such as this one offers poor children a roof over their heads, a luxury we may take forgranted everyday.

I appreciate there are many worthwhile causes out there and many of you already contribute to other charities, each one with its own merits. Therefore, as a guidance, I am asking for a donation of €5 / £5, the equivalent of buying me a drink :)

Every penny and every cent counts.

Thank you.