50-year old climbs Kilimanjaro for school

Shadi Mokoena, a 50-year old former learner of Maribe Primary School in Segopye village Ga-Mamabolo is starting her ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania tomorrow (Friday) in aid of the school and to garner sponsorships to assist in various matters at the school.
At 5 895 metres (19 341 feet) Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. It is a dormant volcano with a diverse landscape ranging from rainforest to high-altitude mountain desert.
She will attempt the six-day Machame road up the mountain. Mokoena would have departed for Tanzania on Wednesday (yesterday) and is expected to summit next Thursday.
“I was a pupil at the very rural area school from 1971 to 1974. There is a lot of potential, but very little resources. There is a lot of talent there. Even Ludwick Mamabolo comes from this village,” she said.
As a professional in the education sector she believes a well-resourced and supportive school environment plays an important role in breaking the cycle of poverty. This inspirational woman has drafted proposals to several companies for her fundraising efforts for the school. According to her the school needs a library and books, as they have done well at a reading competition and received some books from donors. The school also needs a computer centre, sport facilities for netball, tennis and other sports and security needs to be upgraded because of the computer centre to be built.”
Mokoena says she decided to adopt the school, saying “Even beyond the time I go on pension I will support the school.”
Mokoena is a veteran runner, belonging to the CSIR Running Club and believes she is relatively fit. She is a bit apprehensive about altitude sickness though, but said she has put her faith in the Sherpas (guides) who accompanies the group which she will join, as they know the signs and when to advise someone when to descend. She has never met any of the group she will be joining before and will be the only South African in the group. She uses her own money to pay for the trip, which she says is very expensive, as she wishes to donate all moneys sponsored to the school. All her gear is in order: boots, thermal clothes, everything.
She says she has never even camped in her life and it will be the first time ever she sleeps in a tent. She has never practised on snow and looks forward to “a wonderful adventure.”
Mokoena currently lives and works in Pretoria, but the school is close to her heart. Polokwane Observer will endeavour to give updates of Mokoena’s ascent and summiting of Mount Kilimajaro and keep readers posted on our website.

Story: NELIE ERASMUS
>>nelie.observer@gmail.com

Featured photo: Shadi Mokoena. (Photo: Supplied)