A group of Jewish trekkers are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for SHALVA.
This October around 30 Jews from around the world will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for SHALVA, The Association for Mentally and Physically Challenged Children in Israel based in Jerusalem.
SHALVA provides care and services for over 500 children with disabilities seven days a week free of charge, regardless of ethnicity or background.
With participants from as far away as the UK, USA, Canada and Israel, the climb has attracted an eclectic group of trekkers. The group spans the spectrum of the Jewish community from secular to ultra-orthodox.
Former Manchester resident Aarran Levy is one of the excited adventurers making his first trip up Mount Kilimanjaro.
“I have already climbed Mount Kenya and Jebel Toubkal in Morrocco, the second and third highest mountains in Africa, so it would be nice to add the number one to the list,” he said. “I am looking forward to surviving the experience of climbing to the top of the mountain and seeing the view from the top.”
Aarran spent the first 25 years of his life growing up in Salford and still has a business based in Cheetham Hill.
Trip coordinator Gaby Hirsch said: “Everyone at SHALVA is touched that so many SHALVA supporters have come together to climb for one cause. What started as a UK initiative became a global effort as the unique opportunity captured imaginations around the world.”
Every climber has pledged to raise $10,000 to help fund the SHALVA National Center in the heart of Jerusalem. This state-of-the-art facility will enable SHALVA to expand its services to offer treatment to four times as many children.
For more details on SHALVA, visit Shalva.org. To Sponsor the climbers, visit Climb4shalva.org/sponsor.php.