Six Nigerians climb Kilimanjaro for Down Syndrome

Six Nigerian professionals are embarking on a six-day hike to the peak of Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain.

This is happening as part of a fundraising drive for the Lagos-based Down Syndrome Foundation.

Tagged Climb for Down Syndrome, the charity climb, which is the brain child of Inspired by Charity, a social enterprise, is scheduled to take place between August a6 and 23 in Tanzania.

The hiking party hopes to use the climb to raise awareness about Down syndrome and help to raise N10m for the Down Syndrome Foundation (DSF). DSF is a renowned charity that works to provide leadership, support and advocacy in all areas of concern as it relates to persons with Down syndrome in Nigeria.

Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding mountain at 5,895m high, attracts over 40,000 people every year who seek to climb it. Of the seven summits, it is the easiest to climb, requiring no ropes, or special mountaineering gears or previous climbing experience.

The Climb for Down Syndrome Party will be climbing through the Machame route, one of the seven routes to Uhuru summit.

According to Dotun Eyinade, the convener, the choice of the route is to ensure that everyone acclimatizes quickly, and also to increase the chances of success.

“Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro remains a physical and mental challenge and for many of us it will be one of the most physically exacting things we would do in our youth,” he said.

“Inspired by Charity views the experience as more than an adventure, but a purposeful intervention to support the Down Syndrome Foundation as it executes its charitable mandate in providing critical succour to a vulnerable community.”

Eyinade, a fellow with Acumen Fund, said the team would leverage the media, especially new media platforms, to raise awareness about Down syndrome and the foundation.

“As socially-minded professionals, we consider the hike a transformational experience, one which requires courage, grit and determination,” he said.

“We are excited about the prospect of using the hike to fundraise for Down syndrome foundation and help to place down syndrome on the front burners of public discourse again.”

The professionals are drawn from the KPMG, Seven Energy, Generation Enterprise, Acumen Fund, amongst others.

Climb for Down Syndrome has also received the endorsement of the Down Syndrome Foundation.

“This is a worthy and unique concept which I believe must be the first of its kind in our country,” Mrs Rose Mordi, president of Down Syndrome Foundation, said.

“We would love to thank the team for believing in our cause and finding our Foundation worthy to benefit from this unique event.”

Donations in support of the Climb can be made directly to the bank accounts of the Down Syndrome Foundation as well as on www.234give.com, a crowdfunding platform.