Twenty people overcame two challenges over the festive week, climbing the world’s tallest free-standing mountain and raising funds to complete a centre for children with disabilities in Ethiopia.
The largest group ever to take the Kilimanjaro Challenge scaled Mount Kilimanjaro in six days, reaching the top on Wednesday at 8.30am. It took the team, made up of 20 people aged between 19 and 50, another two days to descend and Friday will be their first day of rest.
Team leader David Serge told the Times of Malta it was a very challenging experience, with the climbers battling a wind chill of -10˚C to -12˚C and a steep ascent.
They started the climb on December 28 and their challenge encouraged donations that exceeded the €90,000 target. So far, more than €110,000 have been collected in aid of the Jesus in Thy Neighbour missionary movement, founded by the late Fr George Grima.
Funds will go towards the completion of a €1.2 million centre
The funds will go towards the completion of a €1.2 million centre, which will equip children with skills that will help them lead an independent life. It was nearly completed before Fr Grima passed away aged 66. It includes, among others, a physiotherapy hub, a school, a day care centre and dormitories for 200 disabled children who would otherwise live on the streets.
The feat was dedicated to Fr Grima’s memory and most of the team members will travel to Ethiopia in a week to inaugurate the project.
Jesus in Thy Neighbour cares for about 23,000 children and its projects are ongoing. Among others, it funds 230 schools in Ethiopia and Kenya, where children are granted access to education, food and health facilities. Over the past years, more than €800,000 were collected through Kilimanjaro Challenge Malta for 10 projects in Kenya and Ethiopia.
Readers can update themselves on the feat by looking up the Facebook page Kilimanjaro Challenge Malta.
Those who would like to donate can still do so by calling 5150 2084 ( of €5), 5160 2028 (€10) and 5180 2095 (€25). They can also text 5061 8062 ( donation of €4.66), 5061 8861 (€6.99) or 5061 9261 (€11.65). Direct deposits can be made in the Bank of Valletta account Kilimanjaro Challenge 12; IBAN number MT24VALL22013000000040025324242.