Introduction
In our ongoing effort to reach out to our community and provide opportunities for the students within The University of Witwatersrand Medical School, The Wits Students Surgical Society is proud to announce its newest groundbreaking initiative the 2014 Kilimanjaro Challenge which will take place from the 21 st - 29 th of November 2014. The expedition will be led by world renowned mountaineer and guide Sean Disney in conjunction with Adventure Dynamics International. Our aim is to assemble a team of approximately 24 climbers from the students of Wits Medical School to summit the 5895m high peak of Kilimanjaro via the Rongai Route. Through sponsorship and donations to our cause we are aiming to raise at least R500 000.00 in which proceeds go to The Smile Foundation. 2
Welcome from the President Good evening ladies, gentleman and distinguished guests. It is my privilege to warmly welcome you to the Launch event for the Kilimanjaro Challenge. The Wits Students Surgical Society is proud to be the organization piloting this project and being able to raise funds in aid of the Smile Foundation. Over the past few years the society has made its dream of reaching out to the community a reality. Our aim is to continue investing not only in the children whose lives are changed by the efforts of Smile Foundation but to also to promote excellence in the field of surgery among young professionals. We aim to continue finding pioneering ways of to change the surgical environment in the South African public health sector. The society has done many ground breaking projects in the past such as the 94.7 Momentum Cycle Challenge, Alexandra Clinic outreach, fun runs, surgical skills workshops and perfecting suturing training for students. As well as being founding members of the Southern African and International Associations for Students interested in Surgery. We are at the forefront of student surgical training in Africa and across the world. So many of us have a mountain to climb in our own lives, the same can be said about building a generation of excellent surgeons. Which is why we thought summiting the highest mountain in Africa would be appropriate. Congratulations to everyone who has been involved in the viability and success of this project to far. I hope there is a good response to tonights event and that everybody here tonight will join in, in your own ways. Your efforts will be the driving force behind the team reaching the 5895m summit and with it changing the lives of the children who will benefit from the Smile Foundation surgeries. I wish you all well on your journey and conquering this massive mountain in the upcoming months. President Wits Student Surgical Society Robert Jaich 3
More about Smile The Smile Foundation is a South African non-governmental organisation with a holistic health care vision for children with facial conditions. The Smile Foundation together with the country s Academic Hospitals work together to put the smile back onto our children s faces with free corrective facial reconstructive surgery and treatments. Smile foundation has not only made a massive positive impact on the lives of so many children in our country, but they have also brought organizations together as part of a community of people united for a common goal. The opportunity to serve the youth of this country has given us continued motivation to support this noble organization. Smile Foundation also offers members of the Wits Student Surgical Society to observe these incredible, life-changing surgeries. Wits Student Surgical Society and Smile Foundation have built a mutually beneficial relationship over the past few years which has been invaluable in the training of the future surgeons of South Africa. Adventure Dynamics International 4
Adventure Dynamics International has been leading and guiding trips up Kilimanjaro for over 15 years and their knowledge and expertise and professionalism make their expeditions a truly great experience. They guide mountains around the world and thrive on the fact that they are led by professional climbers. This gives them the opportunity to impact the knowledge and service necessary to make this an unforgettable adventure. Our expedition will be led by Sean Disney - the MD of Adventure Dynamics International and has himself summited Everest twice, Kilimanjaro 16 times as well as each of the 7 continents highest peaks (Seven Summits) and skied to both the North and the South Poles. Sean is one of the worlds most experienced mountain guides and expedition leaders with over 19 years worth of experience. He is also the first ever South African to complete the GRAND SLAM which refers to summiting the Seven Summits as well as skiing to the North and South Poles. Adventure Dynamics International offers packages to all routes on Kilimanjaro and we have chosen The Rongai Route. This route has one of the highest summit success rates and renowned for being particularly beautiful and scenic. The Mountain 5
Mount Kilimanjaro is situated in Tanzania and stands 5895m above sea level and is the highest freestanding mountain in the world. Kilimanjaro is situated 330 kilometers south of the equator, near the Indian Ocean. Its magnificent size and height strongly influence the climate and thus vegetation, animal life and climbing conditions. Due to a long history, Kilimanjaro has been left with magnificent features unlike any other mountain. The Climate During the ascent the journey will begin by taking you through equatorial rain forests and will end in arctic like conditions with temperatures reaching well below freezing. The foot of the mountain range begins on the warm, dry plains of the African grasslands with an average temperate of 30 degrees Celsius in the areas where Moshi and Arusha are located. The start of the hike begins in a huge expanse of wet tropical forest with vast vegetation. As the hike ascends in altitude you will gradually change to climates with less rainfall, less vegetation and lower temperatures until the summit is reached where there is permanent ice. 6
The weather on Kilimanjaro changes seasonally and varies with altitude on the mountain. March until May is considered the rainy season and cloud cover during this time is common which could limit visibility on the summit. The dry season, which is considered to be in June and July is usually clear of clouds, but night time temperatures can be very cold. August and September are also cool months and are more often clear of cloud cover, but usually a dripping cloud belt girdles the mountain above the forest and moorland. The summit, however, is usually clear and at the summit one can see distant mountain peaks poking through the clouds. The shorter rainy period of October to December can bring thunderstorms over the mountain. Typically the clouds dissipate by the evening leaving clear night skies. January and February are usually very dry, warm and clear with brief rain showers. January, February and September are the driest months with the least chance of rain and June, July, August, November and December being good for snow at the summit. The Itinerary 7
Rongai Route (Camping) Day 1 Moshi Arrive in Moshi. Transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. Day 2 Rongai Camp Breakfast and transfer to start of route. Register at Marangu park gate and transfer (approximately 2.5 hours) to Rongai trail head. Begin hiking from the village of Nale Moru. The small winding path crosses maize fields before entering a pine forest that has a gentle climb and shelters a variety of wildlife including the Kilimanjaro Colobus monkey. Our campsite is at the edge of the moorland with expansive views of the Kenyan plains. Altitude: 1950m-2600m; Hiking time: 3 hours. Day 3 Kikilewa Caves Challenging ascent to the Second Cave where we will relax and have lunch with superb views of Kibo and the ice fields on the crater rim. After lunch we proceed towards the jagged peaks Mawenzi where we camp in a sheltered valley near Kikiwela caves. Altitude: 2600m-3450m; Hiking time: 6-7 hours Day 4 8
Mawenzi Tarn A short, but steep climb up grassy slopes to Mawenzi Tarn which offers superb views of this wilderness area. The remainder of this day is spent resting in preparation for the final push to high camp. Altitude: 3450m-4335m Hiking time: 3-4 hours Day 5 Kibo Campsite We cross the saddle between Mt Mawenzi and Kibo to reach Kibo campsite. The remainer of the day is spent resting and relaxing in preparation for the final ascent. Altitude: 4335m- 4750m Hiking time: 4-5 hours Day 6 Final ascent - Horombo camp A very early start (midnight) for the final challenge to reach Uhuru Peak [5895m]. We push up further from the short haul up to Uhuru Peak. We then descend to Kibo and a rest then continue down the Marangu Route to Horombo Camp. Altitude: 4335m-5680m (Gillman s Point), 5680m-5895m (Summit), then down to 3720m Hiking time: 12-16 hours Day 7 9
Descent to Marangu We descend steadily through the moorland, past Mandara Hut and through a lush rain forest to the Marangu Park Gate where transport will be waiting to drive us back to Moshi. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Altitude: 3720m-1900m Hiking time: 5-6 hours Day 8 Depart Airport transfer for flight home. The Package 10
Including: - Fully guided expedition by Sean Disney - 2 nights accommodation at a 5 star Tanzanian mountain lodge. (eg: Protea Aishi or San Salinero) - All porters, park fees and camping accommodation on the mountain - All meals - Mountain Rescue (if needed) - 2 airport transfers - Training program designed by Sean Disney - Gear briefing by Drifters Sandton - Gear rental of items that we do not have (see what is included under Gear Rental) - Tips for the Tanzanian guides (USD $150 per person) Excluding: - Yellow fever inoculation (which is compulsory). Can be done at your nearest travel clinic at least 10 days before departure. Please bring Yellow Fever Certificate with you on the trip. - Lunches off of the mountain, drinks and food of a personal nature - Visa cost is free and is available on arrival at Kilimanjaro international airport. - Hospitalization, evacuation or medical costs (if needed) - we will advise you on insurance if you are not covered by medical aid. - Any aviation fuel tax surcharge that is beyond our control or by the airline on short notice - Any unforeseen increase in Park Permit and entrance fees, and/or any other government fees - Personal spending (drinks, memorabilia etc.) The Cost and Joining the Team 11
Rongai Route: Package cost: Flight cost: 6 days/ 5 nights + 2 days of travel USD $2200.00 (excluding flight prices) +/- ZAR R9200 (please see important dates on schedule) The total cost of the package will be determined by the exchange rate and cost of flights which cannot be confirmed until booked and paid. We would like to get flights booked as soon as the trip is confirmed to get the cheapest possible prices and will be taken into account when the final total cost will be announced towards the middle of 2014. How to secure your place on the team: - The application form (attached to this information pack) must please be completed and returned to a Surgical Society committee member or emailed to witssurgicalsociety@gmail.com before the end of Wednesday 30th April to be eligible to climb. - The preliminary team will then be announced on Monday May 5th. Booking and Registration forms will be sent to the preliminary team on this day and you will be added to the team Whatsapp group to keep everyone up to speed. - Booking and registration forms are due on Monday 19th May. A USD $500 deposit AS WELL as payment of confirmed airfare is due on Monday 2nd June and this will secure your spot on the team as a climber. (Please refer to the attached General Schedule) - On Friday 6th June the final climbing team will be announced and have photographs taken. The outstanding amount is due on October 10th 2014. Invoices for the cost of the package are in USD converted to SA Rands at the bank-selling rate applicable on the day of invoicing. Payments made in USD is accepted The Fundraising 12
Remember, the main purpose of this expedition is to raise money for The Smile Foundation. So it will be a requirement and the responsibility for each climber to raise a minimum of R10 000 for the charity. We have a professionally compiled sponsorship proposal and team in place that will guide you with a list of potential sponsors and contacts as well as a sponsorship package with incentives. The packages have a basic structure, but our campaign will allow flexibility to tailor a package to suit the requests of the sponsors. We will assist in setting up a first meeting with a potential sponsor. Hedley and a member from the fundraising committee will accompany you to your meeting (at least) it is then your responsibility to maintain that relationship and ensure that the sponsor as well as us receive maximum benefit. The support in place is designed to make the fundraising as easy as possible for you when you approach them. Some sponsors will also have the opportunity to sponsor one of our pieces of essential gear. An exciting extra will be a personalized pair of Kilimanjaro Challenge 2014 scrubs with the climbers name and logo embroidered on which we will wear at our events preceding the climb. Money donated will be paid into an official account and by referencing your sponsors payments with your name we will keep track of the money each of you bring in. As incentive, a leader board of who has brought in the most money will be updated monthly on the Surgical Society website as well as the Surgical Society Facebook page and the person that has brought in the highest total at the end of November 2014 will win a suturing pack sponsored by Covidien Our goal is that we can raise a grand total of R500 000 by the end of our campaign. Media Strategy 13
We will be communicating through various forms of media throughout our preparation and the expedition itself. The aim is to gain as much exposure for our cause as possible. Our PR team from Smile Foundation and Wits is already well established and working hard to give maximum credibility and exposure. Facebook Progress throughout the campaign and during the climb itself will be posted on the Wits Surgical Society Facebook page. It will be used to communicate with the public, friends and family leading up to and during the expedition. Radio We will use radio as much as possible to raise awareness and support for our cause. Video and Photography We will be photographing and videoing the events preceding the climb (such as training sessions and fundraising events) as well as the climb itself and will be updated to the Surgical Society Facebook page and webpage. Press Release We will use press releases to broadcast our projects progress to local newspapers and media in our databases. We have an enormous reach through social media too so the more public each of us can make this by reposting, tweeting etc. the more successful we are going to be. This will be especially effective if it comes from climbers. Gear 14
A full breakdown of the gear will be provided upon payment of the USD $500 deposit for the expedition. The 50% deposit is due on June 2nd 2014. The gear will also be discussed at a gear briefing on Thursday June 19th 2014. Certain gear rental is included free of charge and is inclusive in the expedition cost: - Dry Pack - Sleeping bag (rated -8 degrees Celsius) - Waterproof/ windproof jacket - Fleece jacket - 80 liter duffle bag - Windproof gloves - Head torch (excluding batteries) - Snow gaiters - Sleeping mat *Although there will not be a charge for the inclusive gear rental, we will need a returnable deposit to cover cost of any items lost or damaged beyond possible further use Scrubs/ apparel It is our plan to wear the official Kilimanjaro Challenge scrubs (that will have been sponsored) during the initial ascent of the climb as well as at various Surgical Society events throughout the year preceding the climb. For example: - 702 Walk the Talk - Warrior Challenges - Nike We Run Jozi - 94.7 Cycle Challenge There are few things more striking than a group of doctors in scrubs and this will not only give us more exposure opportunities for our sponsors, but will also give the Society a better public presence. The remainder of the gear will either hopefully be sponsored or alternatively bought at a discounted price. Training Program 15
Once confirmed that you are part of the team and your USD $500 deposit is paid you will be sent a team training program and gear list that will ensure that you are successful once on the mountain. The training will be reasonable and as fun as possible with the main goals of building fitness, team unity and public exposure. We are currently looking into exciting collaborations for our preparations, but nothing is confirmed as of yet. The Training Program is essential for a number of reasons: - A minimum number of training hikes need to be met to maximize the success of your climb. - It gives you a chance to get to know the people you will be embarking on this epic adventure with. - It will keep all of the climbers intent and involved in their preparations both mentally and physically as well as in their fundraising. Team unity is the focus of our preparation. As a member of the climbing team you will be representing Wits, Surgical Society and Smile and so a requirement will be to be available for a minimum number of publicity and training events preceding the climb. As part of the Training Program there will also be a number of events such as 702 Walk the Talk, Warrior Challenge, 94.7 Cycle Challenge, Nike We Run Jozi and though they will not all be compulsory, it is a requirement to participate in at least two preceding the climb. Attendance to all events will be preferred. Contacts and Kilimanjaro Committee Members 16
Salman Idrees Executive Committee Member Climbers Leason Wits Student Surgical Society A Subcommittee of the Wits Medical School Council +27 83 523 3772 www.wits.ac.za/clubs/surgicalsociety Graeme Moore Committee Member, Project Manager Wits Student Surgical Society A Subcommittee of the Wits Medical School Council +27 72 538 9601 www.wits.ac.za/clubs/surgicalsociety Stephanie Van Straten Executive Committee Member Wits Student Surgical Society A Subcommittee of the Wits Medical School Council +27 83 281 2967 www.wits.ac.za/clubs/surgicalsociety 17
Name: Year of study: Email address: Contact number: Are you registered with Surgical Society? YES NO Will you need assistance in raising personal funds to contribute to your climb? YES NO I would like to be part of the Wits Surgical Society Kilimanjaro Climbing Team and am available to climb from the 21st-29th November 2014. Signature: Date: *Please insure that this form is handed in by the end of Wednesday 30 April 2014. 18