DENVER, CO, Aug. 23, 2011 -- On August 29, four climbers will begin a 19,340-foot trek up Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, in an effort raise money for international nonprofit Water For People. The expedition -- dubbed the Climb for Water -- aims to raise one dollar for every foot they reach in elevation as a group, with an overall goal of almost $20,000.
Kilimanjaro has been a popular destination among those passionate about water. Last year, a team of water-conscious celebrities led by Grammy-nominated musician Kenna also climbed the mountain as part of their SUMMIT ON THE SUMMIT expedition.
Climb for Water was founded by Kraig Kern and Scott Whalen, two friends who always had a dream to climb one of the world's tallest mountains. They created Climb for Water to convert their shared desire into an opportunity to save lives and eradicate the global water crisis. Kern and Whalen, who both work at WK Dickson & Co. Inc., will be joined by Tasha Lewis, a project manager and hydrologist at CH2M HILL and Kary Kern, a nuclear specialist for Duke Energy in SC. Kraig Kern is also a member of the North Carolina committee of Water For People.
"This effort is the perfect fit for what we are passionate about," said Kraig Kern. "A climb on Kilimanjaro will challenge us physically, mentally and spiritually -- but it is well worth it if we have reached enough people to make a real difference. This isn't a vacation. It's a life-saving journey."
"We are so grateful for Climb for Water's commitment to Water For People, and their support will go a long way in helping us achieve our mission of bringing clean and safe water supplies and adequate sanitation conditions to everyone, regardless of where they live," said Water For People's CEO Ned Breslin. "Community organizations' support of Water For People is so integral to our success, and this contribution will have a tremendous impact on the areas in which we work to alleviate the global water crisis."
Water For People is an international nonprofit organization that supports the development of locally sustainable drinking water resources, sanitation facilities, and hygiene education programs throughout the world. In Bolivia, for example, the organization is trying a new approach to sanitation whereby the private sector is providing sanitation goods and services to people in a peri-urban area of Cochabamba.
To learn more about Climb for Water, visit http://www.climbforwater.org or follow the climbing team's progress on Facebook.
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