In celebration of her birthday, Dr Nonhlanhla Khumalo decided to do something more purposeful.

Berea Mail reports she recently embarked on a six-day hike, summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, to raise money to purchase 50 pairs of school shoes for the children of Nkanyezi Youth Development Camp in Bergville.

Khumalo, whose core mandate at DUT is to provide academic support to undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as staff, through reading, writing and research development, said summiting Mount Kilimanjaro was a milestone.

“Celebrating another year was a significant milestone and a true blessing, which inspired me to celebrate in a way that was more meaningful than the usual self-indulgent options.

“I wanted to do something that would allow me to give back to the community and make a positive impact on other people’s lives. Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro has long been a bucket-list goal for me and this journey presented the perfect opportunity to hike for a cause,” shared Khumalo.

Cold, fatigue and altitude tested her

She admitted that navigating Mount Kilimanjaro was incredibly challenging. “The extreme cold temperatures, fatigue and altitude played havoc with my brain as I wanted to sit and rest and just nap for at least five minutes but my guide wouldn’t allow me to close my eyes,” said Khumalo.

A milestone of victory and gratitude

Khumalo said it was a proud moment that represented victory and gave her the belief that she could face all the challenges that the world threw at her. At that moment, she said it hit her that she could not take the ability to have the strength and health to do these types of activities for granted.

Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.

Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.