Not all hereos wear capes. Some simply climb one of Africa’s highest mountains to help raise funds for a school in need. In August, we celebrated the strength and determination of women, taking our hats off to one incredible woman as she attempted to (literally) conquer mountains.
Eerste River native Andiswa Siwela chose to grab her hiking boots and climb Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for her former school. Now, she can firmly add mountaineer to her resume as she has safely reached the peak of the mammoth mountain.
However, the adventure isn’t without its struggles. Siwela stated that she suffered from altitude sickness the minute she began her summit.
“I got sick, I started vomiting, had a runny tummy and had to go back down after having started the climb,” she told IOL.
While most people would throw in the towel, Siwela saw this as a reflection of the hardships that she has faced throughout her life, giving her the motivation to climb.
So, what was it like to reach the top and achieve her goal?
““I still have no words for the experience. I was very excited once I finished the climb and reached Uhuru, the highest peak,” she said.
After enjoying every minute of her giant achievement, Siwela made her way back home, undoubtedly grinning from ear to ear. While she can tick this one off her bucket list, she still has funds to procure. However, she’s not done yet. The humanitarian has only made R15 000 of the R150 000 that she hopes will help her former school – Qakazana Middle School in Eerste River.
If you would like to help out, feel free to donate by visiting the following:
For anyone who would like to donate visit: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/qakazana-middle-school
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CT woman takes on Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for former school
Picture: Unsplash