Conquering Kilimanjaro for charity

Twenty-four volunteers will be facing a challenge for a noble cause when they climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa to raise Lm38,000 for the construction of a convent in the Ethiopian village of Bulbula.

Following the success of the Kilimanjaro Challenge, through which Lm38,000 was raised to build a school in Bulbula, the Kilimanjaro Challenge 2, or KC2, will aim to raise money to construct a convent for the nuns who will be running the school.

The challenge is one of the projects falling under the patronage of Reaching Out, a charitable group that raises funds for various humanitarian projects in Third World countries.

Speaking during the launch of KC2 at the Radisson SAS Hotel, Reaching Out representative Keith Marshall explained that since Reaching Out was founded, in April 2003, it had undertaken several projects.

When faced with the challenge of building a school in Ethiopia, Mr Marshall said, there was a need for something more "spectacular" and the idea of sea dwellers climbing up a mountain for a good cause was enticing.

The first Kilimanjaro Challenge took place last January when 16 volunteers climbed the 6,000-metre-high Mount Kilimanjaro.

Alec Sultana, a doctor by profession, formed part of last year's team and this year he will be training the KC2 group as well as being the team leader.

"Last year's experience was very positive, not only because many of us managed to reach the mountain's peak but also because we reached the goal of raising funds. In fact, there was a great deal of interest in the KC2 climb," he said.

This year the group consists of 24 volunteers from all walks of life and of various ages. The team are expected to leave Malta on December 27 and, following a day of travelling and another day of acclimatisation, they will then set off on a seven-day climb up the mountain and two-day descent.

This time, the team will be taking a longer and less frequented climb along the Shira Plateau.

The challenge is not without risk as climbers face the height, low temperatures and reduced oxygen levels. Extensive preparation is essential and team members started training in the beginning of June.

Volunteers train individually every day and as a group at least three times a week. Training involves trekking, camping, climbing Mount Etna and acclimatisation therapy to help the team adapt to the reduced oxygen conditions.

President Emeritus Censu Tabone, concluded the KC2's launch by wishing that this "noble deed" would be successful.

He encouraged team members, whom he defined as "big people", to collect the funds to build the convent as, he said, "a school without teachers is just a pile of stone".

KC2 has three main channels of fundraising: sponsorship, fund-raising activities and public donations.

The two main sponsors are XFM and Energy Mix Quaker. Fund-raising activates, such as a football tournaments, a boat party and a gala dinner, will be organised in the coming month

Meanwhile, the public can contribute to this cause by sending an SMS on 5061-8076 to donate Lm2, on 5061-8927 to donate Lm5, and on 5061-9203 for Lm10.

Donations can also be made at several Reaching Out collection boxes in various outlets all over Malta.