Climb Kilimanjaro For OIF

When George Mallory, the British mountaineer and explorer, was asked to explain why he would want to climb Mt. Everest he simply remarked "because it is there." Mallory's ill-fated attempt at climbing Mt. Everest (1924) has immortalized that saying. Our attempt of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, a far less demanding climb than Everest, is in keeping with Mallory's intention. We wish to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro for the following reasons:

1. Because it is there.
2. Because it is the opportunity of our lifetimes.
3. Because, in doing so, we can raise awareness about Osteogenesis Imperfecta.

On September 23, 2009, Ashley and Anna Curry will depart for Africa and attempt to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, the world's tallest free-standing mountain. This will be the challenge of a lifetime for this father-daughter team. Challenges are not new to Anna as she has overcome numerous orthopedic issues her entire life. Born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, which is also known as "brittle bone disease," she has endured over one hundred fractures and has had numerous orthopedic surgeries.

Ashley and Anna hope to raise awareness about OI as well as raise much-needed funding for OI research. Uhuru peak, pictured above, is the highest point on Mt. Kilimanjaro at approximately 19,400 feet. They hope to raise $19,400.00 for the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation (OIF).

In George Mallory's last letter to his wife he stated "we'll give a whack at it and do ourselves proud." Ashley and Anna hope to do likewise.

Osteogenesis Imperfecta is a genetic disorder characterized by fragile bones that break easily. OI is thought to affect between 25,000 and 50,000 people in the United States. There are varying levels of severity of the disease, with 8 different types of OI currently described in medical literature. For more information about OI, please visit the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation webpage at: www.oif.org

To learn more about our fundraising efforts for the OI Foundation, please click on the "Donate" tab, above, or visit www.oif.org/UE_ClimbKilimanjaro