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Outdoor Retailer News
American Foundation for Children with AIDS will be sharing our vision and work at the Summer Outdoor Retailer Convention in Salt Lake City from August 8 - 11. If you're there, check us out at the Rock and Ice Climbing Wall on Saturday 9th at 1:30pm...we'd love to meet you! |
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Thank You to the Sponsors of Our Two Top Prizes
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Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up
Climb, Hike, Run or Cycle - but do SOMETHING! 
Join as climbers, hikers, cyclists, runners, and walkers "climb" to save lives.
All funds raised benefit the American Foundation for Children with AIDS. AFCA provides life-saving medicine, supplies and food to children in Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe who have been infected with HIV/AIDS.
Event Info
Anywhere in the World
September 20 and/or 21, 2008 |
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Climbing for a Cause
Team urges more to join fundraiser for African youths with HIV/AIDS
By Nancy Wang
nwang@charlotteobserver.com
On Sept. 20 and 21, Donovan Craig will climb 1,500 feet up the face of the New River Gorge in West Virginia. Craig, along with his climbing team Kanyekanye Climbers (named after the Zulu phrase for "all together"), hopes to earn $5,000 in pledges to purchase anti-retroviral medicine for African children affected by HIV/AIDS. The team of 10 local climbers is raising money as part of the second annual "Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up" fundraiser.  Originally from South Africa, Craig moved to Charlotte in mid-2004 and sought ways to engage in outdoor sports. He soon fell in love with outdoor climbing, even going on to manage Charlotte's Inner Peaks gym and teaching others how to climb. "Once you get into climbing, you start to explore your limits, not just physically but psychologically, as well," Craig said.
So when one of his climbing students, Ladianne Mandel, approached Craig to participate in the AIDS charity event, Craig signed on and set out to recruit a climbing team. For Craig, the cause is especially poignant because of his connection to Africa, where AIDS rates are among the world's highest. "I grew up in South Africa, so I saw how people and children suffered," Craig said. "And I grew up in the younger generation that really embraced people helping people."
Everyone from the occasional jogger to the elite hiker is encouraged to gather pledges for completing a physical challenge.
"The idea is to go out, do something good for yourself, for your own health while saving the lives of some kids in Africa," said Tanya Weaver, the executive director of the American Foundation for Children with AIDS and the event organizer.
Climbers, hikers, cyclists and runners from 30 states, France and Kenya participated in last year's event, which raised $15,500. This year, it has grown to include all 50 states in addition to Colombia, Costa Rica, Kenya and Papua New Guinea.
"We wanted to make this event easy and accessible for everyone," Weaver said. "You don't need to be in tiptop shape or to be able to do some crazy challenge. You can go for a good walk or climb a set of stairs and still raise money."
The American Foundation for Children with AIDS is also offering prizes to encourage participation. The individual who raises the most money wins the opportunity to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with a partner. The team that earns the most pledges gets a 10-day safari in Namibia for two.
"My hope for the event is that everybody will have a great time and enjoy putting their healthy bodies to use to help others," Mandel said.
To register or for more information, please click here. |
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We'd love to hear from you! Please contact us at:
American Foundation for Children with AIDS
6221 Blue Grass Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Tel: 1.800.489.0206
Fax: 1.717.489.0214
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