News: Could you climb 19,341 feet in 6 days?

28 April 2010

A group of staff from Mary Sumner House are dusting off our walking boots and taking up the gauntlet of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s largest mountain, in June in a personal response to the growing and urgent needs for funds for Mothers’ Union work around the world. The group includes: Rachel Aston, Clare Askew, Naomi Herbert and Sarah Jupe from the staff and Rachel's husband Steve.


Mount Kilimanjaro:

· 6 days

· 5,895 metres

· 19,341 feet

· four times as high as Ben Nevis

· five times as high as Mount Snowdon


It’s going to be tough but we are up for the challenge and here are the reasons why...

Rachel and Steve - Steve has always wanted to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and I enjoy a challenge that takes me away from the everyday and the normal. So when conversations of scaling the mighty volcanic mountain turned serious, we could not pass the opportunity to seek sponsorship for the climb to raise funds for work of Mothers’ Union, which I am so proud to work for.

Clare – Since working here at Mary Sumner House, I have had the privilege of working with one of the most enthusiastic and passionate teams within the charity sector (biased I may be), but Action and Outreach does a little more than it ‘says on the tin’. However, as creative as we are, the work of Mothers' Union is increasingly becoming restricted by the unfortunate reality of diminishing funds due to the current difficult times we are all facing. Having witnessed the tireless work our women unconditionally devote themselves to, day-in and day-out, we have been spurred into action here in the UK! About time I hear you cry!

Naomi - I've had the privilege over the last seven years, of working with a totally inspiring group of people, through the different Mothers’ Union offices, who are involved in an amazing range of projects and programmes around this great globe. In the name of 'work' I've flown in six seater planes and jumbos, ridden motorbikes and bumped about in 4x4s and other somewhat dubious vehicles, floated on seas, rivers and streams in canoes, on pull bridges and ferries, but never have I climbed a very high mountain (only metaphorically) for six whole days! This challenge was therefore too good to miss and for such a great cause too!

Sarah - since starting to work at Mary Sumner House two years ago, I have been amazed at the commitment many of our members who volunteer or are employed bring to the Mothers’ Union. It humbles me to see the challenges they face which have been exacerbated by the financial crisis. I wanted to honour the sacrifices many of them make daily by doing something I have never done before. I think the highest I have ever climbed anything was the stairs up to the roof in Mary Sumner House – 5,895 metres will be a challenge but I am sure we’ll all keep going in order to plant a Mothers’ Union flag at the top! 

 

We’d love you to support us in our bid to reach the summit and raise funds for the great work of the Mothers’ Union whilst doing so! http://www.JustGiving.com/MothersUnionDoesKilimanjaro is the easiest way to do this.  You can also download sponsorship forms from the website, at http://www.themothersunion.org/kilimanjaro.aspx  


Please pass this to anyone you think would be interested to hear about it and be prompted to give or to pass it on to others they know with an interest in our work, or in Kilimanjaro, or in climbing – any way you can think of really!

We’re passionate about the work of Mothers' Union and want it to continue and expand to enable more women and their families to be equipped to beat poverty and achieve their full potential, so please dig deep and help us reach our target of £20,000.

Thanks you very much!
Rachel, Clare, Naomi and Sarah