Climbing because they care
Eight people plan to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for the Sunshine Centre Association and Finkelstein TLC.
CRAIGPARK – “The children of Sunshine Association Centre and Finkelstein TLC face daily mountains, daily challenges. So we’re taking on a mountain challenge to help them,” said the centre’s Shannon O’Keefe.
She will be joined by seven others in an attempt to summit the world’s highest free-standing mountain, Kilimanjaro, in September.
The group hope to raise R1 million with the sponsored climb for the continued operational costs of the Craigpark-based centre and Sandringham’s Finkelstein TLC school which cater for special needs children.
The project, Climb ’cause we care, began when O’Keefe was joined by friend Perry Jones, whose daughter attends Finkelstein TLC, at a braai a year ago.
“We chatted about what we could do to help the children, and Jones looked at me and said, ‘Let’s climb Kilimanjaro.’ I looked at him and said, ‘Ok’, even though I’ve never climbed a mountain before,” she said.
O’Keefe’s and Jones’ friends and associates Kelly O’Keefe, Leigh Griffiths, Michelle Levy, Megan Asoulin, Sergio Bennie and Nicky Setton offered to join the expedition, and Sandi Pope agreed to help with fundraising and networking in the build up to the climb.
Corporate and individual sponsors were approached and the group hope the public will take an active part in helping them. Michael Hendler of Australian company True Alliance donated footwear, apparel and bags for the climb.
“We’re planning a walk at a sports club for July. The entrance fees will go towards our financial goal,” said Jones.
Neither school nor centre turn away special-needs children whose parents cannot afford tuition fees.
“We hope this project will help in terms of sustainability. We want to ensure a section of our community, often forgotten about because they’re perceived as different, will continue to receive the care and education they deserve,” said Shannon O’Keefe.
The climbers train individually on weekdays, and meet up on weekends to climb the Westcliff steps or go on hikes.
“We’re ordinary South Africans, so this is exciting. If someone had suggested I climb a mountain for the sake of climbing it, I would have said definitely not. But to climb a mountain for these children? Definitely.”
Donate R10 to the cause by smsing the word ‘Care’ to 38842.
Details: Shannon O’Keefe 083-973-0422; craighall@sunshine.org.za Perry Jones 083-377-3097; wibnice@mweb.co.za
