Conquering Kilimanjaro to uplift girls, Jessica King shares her unstoppable journey
Jessica King was driven by her passion to empower young girls to summit Mount Kilimanjaro as part of the Trek4Mandela campaign. To join the expedition, she raised R100 000 for the Caring4Girls foundation, but that was just the start.
Inspired by her three-year-old daughter and driven by a passion to empower young girls, Jessica King took an extraordinary journey to summit Mount Kilimanjaro as part of the Trek4Mandela campaign.
This courageous endeavor was fueled by a profound conviction: that every girl deserves the chance to stay in school, dream big, and shatter the barriers that stand in her way. But for King, it was more than just a personal challenge – it was a chance to champion a vital cause, providing sanitary products to keep girls in school and paving the way for a brighter future.
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She said before qualifying to climb Kilimanjaro with Trek4Mandela, she had to raise R100 000 for the Caring4girls foundation, which is the prerequisite to joining the group.
“I didn’t have a corporate sponsor off the bat; the fundraising was not easy. I would wake up at 05:00 everyday and send my proposal to at least 10 companies/individuals everyday.”
King started losing hope after five months, being far off her goal, but through dedication she persevered. It was this dedication and perseverance that helped prepare her for the challenge of Mount Kilimanjaro.
“It was both breathtaking and extremely humbling. There were moments when the altitude got to me, and the cold seeped into my bones, making every step feel like an uphill battle – literally! But it wasn’t just the physical challenges.
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“Mentally, there were points where I questioned whether I had it in me to reach the summit. One of the most challenging moments was the final ascent: at midnight, in the dark, freezing temperatures, with nothing but determination keeping me going.”
King started training six months before the expedition. She said she has always been an avid hiker and trail runner, so she incorporated a mix of trail running, hiking, and climbing the WestCliff stairs into her routine, to prepare for the challenge, mentally and physically.
“I also focused on endurance because Kilimanjaro isn’t just about physical strength, it’s about stamina. Mentally, I found strength through meditation and visualization. I visualised myself at the summit, constantly reminding myself why I was doing this: for the girls, for the cause, and for the woman I wanted to become through this journey.”
Her grandmother was one of the 20 000 women who marched to the union buildings in 1956 for Women’s rights, that’s why standing at the summit of Kilimanjaro 68 years later, on Women’s day, was overwhelming for King.
“I remember standing there, tears in my eyes, thinking about the young girls who would have better opportunities because of this. I felt immense gratitude, not just for the achievement, but for the team around me, for the cause, and for every challenge that had led me to that moment.”
King said Kilimanjaro was just the beginning. She will be doing a six day hike in the beautiful Cederberg, Western Cape in November.
“I am planning a week Kayaking expedition from South Africa to Botswana, to name a few, But more than just physical adventures, I’m planning to continue my journey of personal growth and advocacy.”
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