Every penny raised going to UNICEF's Darfur relief fund
Local Chiswick resident, Carina Bloom, will leave home comforts behind next month [14th – 20th October] to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania to raise money for the UNICEF Emergency Appeal Fund for the children of Darfur in Sudan.
Carina (27), who works for Brighton-based international meetings and incentives travel company, IMEX, will be joined by colleagues from around the world.
The international team will be covering all of their own costs so that every penny raised will go directly to UNICEF’s appeal fund. Even small amounts can make an enormous difference – for just 50p three children can be immunised with a measles vaccine and £3,300 will buy one complete emergency health kit, containing medicines, medical supplies and basic medical equipment for a population of 10,000 for 3 months.
Carina Bloom says, “We are looking forward to the climb and grateful to IMEX for the support they have shown to UNICEF in their willingness to allow us to hopefully achieve our goal. I very much hope that my local London community will help us to raise funds for this enormously worthwhile cause.”
UNICEF’S Regional Fundraising Manager for the South East, David Speirs, says, “UNICEF is deeply grateful to our colleagues at IMEX. By sponsoring the IMEX Kilimanjaro Climb your money will help UNICEF provide vital services to ensure that as many children as possible have access to the most basic aspects of survival: primary health care including nutritional support, safe drinking water and sanitation, basic education, and protection from exploitation and abuse.”
Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest peak. It towers over Tanzania at 20,000 ft (5,800m). The gruelling six day climb has been described by previous climbers as somewhere between murderous and backbreaking. The team are hoping to raise £1 for every foot they climb – a total of £20,000.
Over one million people have fled their homes in the conflict affected Darfur region of Sudan in recent months. They are now living in makeshift camps, where food, water and basic sanitation are in short supply and the situation remains desperate.
UNICEF is currently providing clean water for up to 445,000 persons through rehabilitation of hand pumps, construction of new water facilities and water tinkering; as well as supporting a mass measles immunisation campaign that has already reached 2 million children. Despite these achievements, more resources are desperately needed to step up life-saving initiatives across the region.
September 3, 2004
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For further information on the IMEX climb or to donate the campaign please visit www.unicef.org.uk/imexchallenge. All donations will be gratefully received. Local Samaritans celebrate their golden jubilee
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