By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
SHE claims it was a moment of madness but Hamlyn Heights mum Rosy Borland is sticking to her goal of climbing Africa’s highest mountain.
“I saw the opportunity to climb Mt Kilimanjaro and I thought, ‘Why is it always the young people who get to do this?’
“So I signed up with a bit of a point to prove – more to myself than anyone else,” Rosy laughed.
But first the keen bushwalker and hiker is meeting a different challenge – raising $4000 for UNICEF as part of the climb.
With a dinner party, trivia night and ceramics sale already under her belt, Rosy is approaching the fundraising summit after accumulating donations of more than $3000 already.
She hopes a monster garage sale will get her over the fundraising line, leaving time to complete her training for the seven-day climb of the world’s highest free-standing mountain.
“I’ll make the ascent as part of a group of 25 climbers, accompanied by various guides and porters. Climbing the mountain involves walking five to seven hours a day, mostly uphill.
“I love the feeling of being out there, challenging yourself in the natural environment. You learn a lot about yourself – everyone should do it.
“This trek will be a huge challenge for me, both physically and spiritually. I’m 54 and five foot nothing, so my little legs will have a lot of work to do to get up that mountain.
“But by taking on challenges in our lives and stretching ourselves we become more in tune with the meaning of our existence.”
Kilimanjaro won’t be the first mountain Rosy has conquered, though – she has already climbed Mt Fuji as well as hiked Karijini National Park Gorges, walked the Milford Track, climbed Fox Glacier and traversed the Overland Track.
Rosy’s Kilimanjaro Garage Sale, raising money for UNICEF’s mobile child health teams across Africa, will be open from 8am to 8pm on 22 February at 8 Prosen Crt, Hamlyn Heights.
