The Mitchell Family climbs Mt Kilimanjaro for Children of Tanzania
The wind was blowing twenty miles an hour; it was fifteen below zero and pitch black at midnight miles above the Serengeti Plain. The stars and moon were beautiful that night but they offered little assistance for our journey. “Knowing we currently stood at 19,000 feet in total darkness and without being able to see anything in front or back of me, I put my complete trust in the guide, and my complete faith in God,” Emily Mitchell, Benet alum class of 2011. While summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, all we could do was take it one step at a time. Our story, however, doesn't start at the top of the mountain, or even the bottom, it begins seven years earlier.
Three plane changes and 24 hours of travel brought the Mitchell family to South Africa in the summer of 2005, a trip that has left an everlasting impression upon us. Prior to our embarking, as a family we created the “ABC's for Africa” program. Collecting over 250 pounds of school supplies and books, we personally delivered them to the children of an underprivileged school in Mfuwe, Zambia. The sense of fulfillment we felt when we pulled up to the school was immeasurable. Over 700 students from kindergarten through eighth grade were cheering and chanting for our arrival. “These people are incredibly friendly. They don't expect anything from you and they are so thankful for what they receive,” Sean Mitchell, Benet alum '07. Learning how such a small gesture can lead to such a monumental change in a person's life stimulated us to return to Africa.
Our challenge this time was not transporting school supplies; it was to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro. Kili is what the African locals call Mt. Kilimanjaro, “the roof of Africa”, which rises 19,341 feet above the Serengeti Plain in Northern Tanzania. On July 22, 2012 we undertook the challenge of climbing Kili to raise awareness and funding for the children of Tanzania. Before our departure, as a family we started a foundation called “Kili for Kids” and selected three organizations for the proceeds. The first organization is St. Gertrude's School for Girls in Imiliwaha, Tanzania. This all girls school is run by the Benedictine Sisters and is a sister school to Benet Academy. The second organization is Arusha Lutheran Medical Center, a medical center in the heart of Tanzania, which was in need of a handheld-ultrasound machine. Lastly for the development of a Youth Rugby Program run by the Tanzania Rugby Union, which was in need of uniforms and equipment. “Raising over $22,000 for underprivileged high school students is a life changing event,” Eric Mitchell, Benet student class of 2013.
Upon landing in Tanzania, we could see the imposing mountain in the distance. Our climb took five and a half days to the summit and a day and a half to get down. “It was physically and mentally challenging and each day added a different challenge from altitude sickness and hypothermia to a slippery rock face,” Ryan Mitchell, Benet alum '09. At 15,360 feet, Barafu Hut was our last campsite before the summit climb. “I was sitting in my tent thinking about all the things that could go wrong and I prayed that everything would go right,” Jack Mitchell, Benet student class of 2014. It was midnight when we started our final climb to the summit, the wind was blowing, the temperature was dropping and our small headlamp was the only source of light. For six and a half hours straight all we could do was walk and pray as we hiked up the desolate frozen rock. The peak of Africa seemed to be constantly rising away from us, but there was no turning back.
At 6:30 in the morning the Mitchell family summited Mt. Kilimanjaro as the sun was rising. Our dream of raising awareness and funds for the children of Tanzania became a reality through determination and creation of the “Kili for Kids” foundation.