Nothing brings me more happiness than trying to help the most vulnerable people in society. It is a goal and an essential part of my life - a kind of destiny. ~Princess Diana
On an ordinary day, if you see someone in need of help you stop to assist them, don’t you? Of course you do. If you could help others by hiking Mount Kilimanjaro, would you? Hopefully you will!
On my Kilimanjaro adventure, our group chatted with a large group from the United Kingdom. We discovered that they were participating in a charity climb, which are apparently popular in the UK.
What is a charity climb, you might ask? A charity climb is where you choose a charity and fundraise for it as part of your climbing experience. You can recruit your family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors to sponsor you by making donations to your charity of choice in honor of your climb.
Looking for more fundraising ideas? Hold a percent night at a favorite local restaurant or bar where a percentage of the evening’s sales are donated to your cause. Approach your company and ask if they will participate by matching the donations you receive from others with a donation from them. Talk to a local TV or radio station about covering your hike to gain publicity. Who knows what perfect stranger might be interested in helping you help your charity!
One way to do a charity climb is to go about the fundraising efforts and collecting of donations on your own. Have those donating make a check out to the charity of your choice, fundraise, and upon returning from your trek donate all of the checks at once with a letter telling your story. You like to be thanked when you donate to a cause, don’t you? Remember to send thank you notes to everyone who supports you!
The alternative to doing it all on your own is using a tour operator that offers charity climbs. I researched a couple of tour operators that specialize in Kilimanjaro charity climbs. American-based company World Expeditions offers treks up the Rongai and Shira routes of Kili and the option of fundraising for the charity of your choice. UK-based company Adventure Alternative heads to the summit of Kili via the Machame route. This company fundraises for Moving Mountains, an NGO that works in Kenya, Nepal, and Borneo to support and renovate orphanages, schools, clinics, rescue centers, community centers, as well as a hydroelectric plant mission and a forest enrichment program. Charity Challenge another UK-based company offers man treks up Kili with the freedom to choose any charity you support.
If you want to support a charity that directly benefits those involved with Kilimanjaro a great options is the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project. They are a registered Tanzanian NGO that helps to improve the working conditions of Kili porters.
Philanthropy is a huge part of my life and in particular I’m passionate about Relay for Life. I love Relay so much that I’ve fundraised over $2,000 for the American Cancer Society in my time at USC. As a sister in Phi Mu Lambda Theta chapter (LIOB to my sisters reading this!), I support our national philanthropy Children’s Miracle Network as well; FTK! If I could do this hike again and do it as a charity climb, I definitely would!
What charity would you donate to if you participated in a charity climb?
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| University Ambassadors at the University of South Carolina at Relay for Life 2010 |
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| The LOVELY Lambda Theta chapter of Phi Mu at the University of South Carolina |
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| Elise, Myself, & Claire at our local Children's Miracle Network Hospital |
Great post!!!! :) LIOB!
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