In June 2006, Dina Mishev was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) In February 2009, she set the world record for the most vertical feet skied uphill by a woman in 24 hours. In July 2011, she hopes to travel to Africa and Kilimanjaro, at 19,340 feet the highest free-standing mountain in the world, as part of a team of 24 climbers, half with MS and half without.
The expedition is being organized by Lori Schneider, the first person in the world with MS to have summitted Mt. Everest. Since summitting Everest, Lori has been traveling the world spreading a message of Empowerment Through Adventure. “In realizing that our limitations and barriers are self-imposed, we are able to move beyond them and they no longer define who we are,” Schneider says. Schneider has planned the Kilimanjaro climb to prove this to the world. Take a Leap of Faith in Africa! Kilimanjaro Climb 2011 is July 10-24.
Unfortunately, there is one barrier Dina and many of the climbers with MS are facing that is not self-imposed: finances. This trip will be guided by Alpine Ascents, a world-renowned Seattle-based guide company with an impeccable safety record and an eagerness to work with this group of inspiring climbers. Such expertise does not come inexpensively. Not including airfare, the trip costs $6,175 per climber. Airfare could ad as much as $2,500 more.
Before Lori’s Kili climb was even in the planning stages, Dina, a travel writer by profession, had founded a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit with the goal of helping people with MS travel, Never Too Weak to Wander. Of course, it was only natural for NTWTW to partner with Lori to offer scholarships for climbers with MS who need help to fund their trips to Kili.
If you would like to help donate to Dina’s trip to Kili, you can do so via a Paypal link at http://nevertooweaktowander.wordpress.com/. If you would like to make a general donation to the Kili climbers with MS, use this link: http://nevertooweaktowander.wordpress.com/a-leap-of-faith-in-africa/.
Of course, old fashioned checks are acceptable too: Make them payable to Never Too Weak to Wander and send them to POB 4424, Jackson, WY 83001. Donations made to NTWTW are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
