Team Kilimanjaro Climb for PD and MS

10/21/2010

'Moving Mountains'
Follow Climbing Team PD-MS Kilimanjaro as they summit Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania Africa in July 2011.

Link to interview with Sierra Farris explaining how this project got started.

What is Team Kilimanjaro Climb?

Pacific Northwest medical team Sierra Farris, PAC and Monique Giroux, MD join eighteen people living with Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis and climbing leader Lori Schneider to climb Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania Africa. Mt Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa towering 19, 340 feet above sea level. The climb will take 6 days and will occur July 13-18, 2011.

Lori Schneider is the first women with MS to summit the 7 highest peaks in each continent, reaching the top of Mt Everest in 2009! She has founded the organization, Empowerment through Adventure , to encourage and empower others not to be labeled by their disease, to reach beyond their diagnosis and continue to challenge themselves and others. Lori organized the Kilimanjaro climb to engage and empower people with MS. Photo courtesy of Alpine Ascents, Seattle,

How did the NWPF get involved?

Sierra Farris, PA-C joined the climbing team, inspired by Lori's message and dedicated to the same principles and ideas for our community. Sierra Farris, PA-C is a physician assistant, medical fitness instructor and climber dedicated to helping people with PD live their best. These individuals decided to partner together and engage individuals with both diseases to climb the mountain. Sierra Farris and NWPF medical director Dr. Monique Giroux will join 5 others touched by PD to climb the mountain in July.

Although not funding the climb, NWPF embraced the virtual team project bring inspiration to yet an even larger group of people throughout the Northwest. This Northwest team allows everyone regardless of physical ability or diagnosis to inspire, be inspired and reach new personal goals.

Why is this climb important?

This climb is about hope, empowerment and support for those living with PD, MS or any challenging condition. It is so important not to be defined by your disease, give in to what others or society expects that you can or can not do. By coming together, this team will increase awareness for these neurologic diseases, and show the world that anything is possible with hope, determination, courage, empathy and community!

How can I get involved?

You do not have to climb a mountain nor do you have PD or MS to get involved. Our own Virtual Team PD was started to give everyone the opportunity to set and achieve their goals. You will come together in unity to support one another, set your own personal wellness goals, work together to achieve them and share in your success and effort along the way.

As a team member, you will set your own personal goals, work towards these goals, inspire one another as a group and 'summit' with the team in July as we applaud everyone's tremendous effort.

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