Climb Kilimanjaro for cancer

It was around August last year that Lisa Nguna’s grandmother passed away from cancer. As Lisa was still in Matric and focussing on exams, the Parktown Girls’ alumna was unable to attend the funeral and so stayed with a friend of hers who had also lost her grandmother to cancer that same year.

This year, the Robindale resident has taken a gap year between studies and plans to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in her grandmother’s honour. She wants it to be something a bit bigger with more meaning. She said, “I contacted the Pink Drive who has been very supportive of my initiative and the climb which will now also raise funds and awareness about the disease. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been affected by the disease in some way. This project is very dear to my heart.”

Nguna, who plays for the Gauteng Women’s Touch Rugby is climbing with Ashleigh McDonald (with whom she matriculated) and Danie Ackerman, who has lost several family members to the disease. Nguna plans to hold a fundraiser in September which will involve exhibition games in soccer, hockey and rugby between the University of Johannesburg, the University of Pretoria and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). So far, UJ and TUKS have shown interest.

The challenge is to find a venue that can host the event as they require astro-turf for the hockey players. Proceeds from the ticket sales for the event will go toward the Pink Drive and any vendors will need to pay a fee to reserve a stall, which will go to the Drive as well.

Nguna will leave for Mount Kilimanjaro on 19 November to commence her trek on 20 November. The hike will last from 20 to 27 November.