Los Angeles, Calif. – Georgina Miranda, 27, is climbing the highest mountain on each continent to raise $2.2 million for the women and children of the Congo and Uganda. Her first climb, scheduled for July 13th, will be Mount Elbrus (Russia), the highest peak in Europe. The mountain is the first in a series of eight that Georgina will climb in her campaign, Climb Take Action 7 Summits Challenge.
Launched in March 2008, the campaign looks to raise $50 for every meter climbed. The proceeds directly support the nutrition, mental health care, and gender-based violence prevention programs in Uganda and the Congo. The programs are run by Santa-Monica-
“Women and children in Congo and Uganda continue to face some of the most horrific, life-threatening situations one could ever imagine,” says Georgina. “Humanitarian assistance is critical for these conflict-plagued areas. I hope that this campaign can not only raise funds to support these women and children, but that it also raises public awareness to their suffering and will motivate people to take action. We can all be a catalyst for change. ”
The campaign also includes a public event, Hike 2 Empower, a 5K hike in Los Angeles on September 27th. Set at the Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills, the fundraiser offers an opportunity for the public to participate in the campaign and take action against war and violence in the Congo and Uganda affecting millions of women and children. The hike also includes community outreach partner, Lululemon Athletica, and product sponsors, Clif Bar and Vitamin Water. Pre-day registration is available at www.hike2empower.org.
For the past nine months, Georgina has been training extensively in preparation of her first summit attempt. Her training has included: Mt. Rainier (14,410 ft), San Jacinto (10,834 ft), Mt. Baldy (10,064 ft), various local day hikes around the Los Angeles area, and 1-hour cardio and weight training workouts during the week. Outside of climbing and humanitarian work, Georgina works in real estate development in Los Angeles.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available, offering corporations and individuals a socially-responsible marketing and community outreach outlet. All donations directly benefit International Medical Corps and are tax deductible. “This is a remarkable way make an impact and to reach thousands of individuals with a vested interest in the global rights and welfare of women and children, as well as outdoor enthusiasts,”
After tackling Russia’s Mount Elbrus (5642 m) this July, Georgina will then move onto Australia’s Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 m) in December. They will be followed by Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,895 m), South America’s Aconcagua (6,962 m), North America’s Mt. Denali (6,194 m), the Carstensz Pyramid (4,884 m) in Indonesia, Vinson Massif (4,897 m) in Antarctica, and finally, the world’s highest peak, Mt. Everest (8,850 m) in Asia.
For more than two decades, conflicts in Uganda and the Congo have produced some of the worst crimes against humanity. Since civil war erupted in 1997, the crisis in Congo has claimed more than five million lives - more than any conflict since World War II. Rape and sexual violence are widespread, with some villages reporting as many as two-thirds of women and girls having been raped, including victims as young as 11 months and as old as 75 years. International Medical Corps is currently supporting 87 health centers in the conflict-affected region of eastern Congo.
In Uganda, a 21-year civil war drove nearly 80 percent of the population in northern Uganda from their homes into congested camps with little food, inadequate health care, poor sanitation, and rampant violence. Rape has also been common among women living in displacement camps, as they are often forced to exchange sex for the most basic necessities, like food and water. With as much as 95 percent of land left uncultivated in some areas, displaced Ugandans often suffer from malnutrition and are completely reliant on food rations, driving an average of 550 children per month to require nutritional care at International Medical Corps’ therapeutic feeding centers.
For more information about the Climb Take Action~7 Summits Challenge campaign, how to get involved, and the programs that it benefits, please visit: http://www.climbtakeaction.com and http://www.imcworldwide.org.
Since its inception nearly 25 years ago, International Medical Corps’ mission has been consistent: relieve the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster and disease, by delivering vital health care services that focus on training. This approach of helping people help themselves is critical to returning devastated populations to self-reliance. For more information visit our website at www.imcworldwide.org.
