- I am struck with how similar mountaineering is to working on world problems:
~ Both involve big, and seemingly insurmountable tasks,
~ Both take the help of others in order to reach the goal,
~ Both deal with risks, and
~ Both require large doses of planning, team work, concentrated effort, and hope.
Having a penchant for challenges, wanting to help others, having a background in working on international humanitarian aid and medical service projects, and being a tad bit creative and enjoying climbing, I founded "Summits for Others."
The basic idea is simple: with each climb I do, I sponsor a project for the non-profit Center for Global Initiatives (http://CenterForGlobalInitiatives.org ). This way I help to raise not only funds for their needs, but also awareness. - I have a goal to climb the "Seven Summits" the highest mountain on each continent. So far I've managed to accomplish the first three of the easy ones (Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa; Mt. Elbrus, Europe (Russia); and Mt.. Kosciusko, Australia). In-between 7-Summit climbs, I’ve done Rainier and Whitney (tallest in the “Lower 48”) and others.
If you would like to make a tax deductible donation, you can easily on-line via PayPal or secure Credit Card by clicking on:
http://centerforglobalinitiatives.org/donateNow.cfm or
http://www.firstgiving.com/cgi
- We would like to challenge you to challenge yourself for the good of others!
While I know climbing isn’t everyone’s bag (as they say) we decided to create the Summits for Others: Challenge Yourself The idea is that you may be a hiker, runner, marathoner, cyclist, swimmer, yoga-aficionado, martial artist, golfer, tennis-buff, or even climbing your own mountain— whatever you like— and you can use your own personal challenge(s) as a vehicle to fundraise to support the work of the Center. So, while you are on your own summit attempt, or marathon, or century, or ultra, or personal-best at pull-ups, or mastering the Crane Pose, or whatever, you can participate as a “virtual athlete” Click http://www.firstgiving.com/20925 to create your own fundraising page in a few easy steps. From that page, click Create a Fundraising Page, then...
Choose Other from the drop-down in the second box, press continue. Choose the length of time you would like your fundraising page to be active, press continue. Login or create an account, press continue. Choose a web address for your new fundraising page and click create your page.
5. Then Send it to all your friends, Tweet it, post on Facebook It's that easy! We hope to raise a minimum of $10,000 to help buy food, medications, and educational supplies for patients and orphan children (ages 3 to 12 years). We will be working to treat malaria, TB, pneumonia, and Immunosupression in collaboration with local doctors, nurses, and staff. We will have a particular focus on counseling to people with HIV infection and AIDS in the Kilimanjaro Region of the Rombo District. Challenge Yourself and do Good for Others! |
