Date: August 2015
Press Release: Chaeli & the ‘Kili’ Climbers: Conquering Kilimanjaro!
Michaela Mycroft (20), aka Chaeli, has Cerebral Palsy and a degenerative neuropathy. This, however, has not stopped her from achieving great things thus far. As an ability activist, she wants to change the world’s perception of people with disabilities.
On the 27th of August, seven climbers, including Chaeli, will embark on an incredible adventure by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. In a custom fitted ‘mountain’ wheelchair, Chaeli will ascend to the ‘top of Africa’ with the aim of showing how important it is to work together to attain a seemingly impossible goal. If successful, we believe that she will be the first female quadriplegic to summit Mount Kilimanjaro.
Each of the seven climbers have funded their own climb and will be helping to raise funds for The Chaeli Campaign’s Inclusive Education Programme, as well as the Chaeli Cottage Inclusive Pre-School and Enrichment Centre, where four able-bodied and six differently-abled children attend school every day.
The climb would not be possible without incredible partners. Duesouth has very generously sponsored the team with gear for the climb.
Online travel agency, Discover Africa – the official partner for the climb – offered the team the expertise of East Africa consultant Carel Verhoef, who has climbed Kilimanjaro once a year for the last 9 years.
Discover Africa built a microsite that creates the sense of taking people up the mountain with Chaeli and the climbers. The website aims to raise additional awareness and funds for The Chaeli Campaign’s inclusive programmes.
What’s on the “DREAMWORK through TEAMWORK” microsite?
- A visual fly-through of the climbers’ route to Mount Kilimanjaro’s summit
- An interactive Google map which plots the climbers’ planned route up the mountain, together with photos, video and messages
- Users can subscribe to receive live updates directly from Kilimanjaro via email, or follow the climb on Facebook and Twitter
- Profiles on each climber, with their specific role in the team
- A timeline on how Chaeli and the team prepared for the climb
- Messages of support from Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Helen Zille, FW De Klerk, Mark Boucher, Rob van Vuuren and many more
- Information on how you can make a donation to the Chaeli Campaign
Website: http://www.discoverafrica.com/teamwork/
If you would like to support the Chaeli Kili Climbers and ultimately grow opportunities for their children, then please find bank details below:
Account Holder: The Chaeli Campaign
Bank: ABSA
Branch: Wynberg
Branch Code: 632 005
Account Type: Savings
Account Number: 9197 353 175
Reference: [Donor Name]+KILI
International donations may be made via GivenGain:
http://www.givengain.com/cause/2384/projects/14852/
Contact details: Simon Mukasa, Communications Coordinator, 0861 242 354 or +27(0) 21 761 4326, simon@chaelicampaign.co.za
End of Press Release
About The Chaeli Campaign
The Chaeli Campaign is a registered non-profit organisation with PBO status working across South Africa to mobilise the minds and bodies of children with disabilities. We achieve this through providing custom-made assistive devices, therapy programmes, supporting inclusive education and running various advocacy events and programmes which focus on the importance of diversity and inclusion. We aim to change the lives of disabled children, onechild at a time.