Trek4Mandela kicks off Mandela Month

Celebrities and business leaders who will be taking part in the Trek4Mandela climb of Mount Kilimanjaro braved the cold on Tuesday morning to raise money toward education and sanitary towels for girls in need.

This as South Africa observes Mandela Month in July and the world celebrates Nelson Mandela International Day on 18 July.

Wednesday 1 July 2015 14:01

It’s easy to throw money at these initiatives, it’s quite another thing to put your body behind them

36 celebrities and business leaders will climb Africa’s highest peak, from 13 July and summit on Nelson Mandela International Day.
They aim to raise funds towards education and sanitary towels for at least 270 000 girls in need.

Climbers include local celebrities Penny Lebyane, ProVerb, Leanne Manners, MoG , Trek4Mandela founder Richard Mabaso and the Nelson Mandela Foundation CEO Sello Hatang.

View images of climbers around Jo’burg streets on 1 July 2015.

To kick off the Trek4mandela campaign, climbers gave away licence disk stickers to motorists at intersections across Johannesburg.

The stickers encourage motorists to SMS “Girlchild” or the name of their chosen climber to 42513 and pledge R30 towards the cause.

According to the Nelson Mandela Fund; PnG will donate a pack of sanitary towels for every step taken by a climber on Mount Kilimanjaro.

Street vendors selling licence disks at some intersections complained that the three hour kick-off campaign would decrease sales of the license disk stickers they were selling.

“Why would they buy my license disk holder if they can get a Mandela sticker for free?” Everybody loves Mandela.” said a vendor.

“It’s easy to throw money at these initiatives, it’s quite another thing to put your body behind them,” says Nelson Mandela CEO Sello Hatang.

Speaking to Morning Live, Hatang commended the climbers and pleaded the public to donate money towards the course.
“We’re now beginning the month to where we’re saying Madiba’s legacy needs live on. This initiative is one part of many initiatives that are taking place,“ says Hatang.

“Please contribute a little bit. Play your part and make sure that we can build a country that’s different, he said.

Street vendors selling licence disks at some intersections complained that the three hour kick-off campaign would decrease sales of the license disk stickers they were selling.

“Why would they buy my license disk holder if they can get a Mandela sticker for free?” Everybody loves Mandela.” said a vendor.

“It’s easy to throw money at these initiatives, it’s quite another thing to put your body behind them,” says Nelson Mandela CEO Sello Hatang.

Speaking to Morning Live, Hatang commended the climbers and pleaded the public to donate money towards the course.
“We’re now beginning the month to where we’re saying Madiba’s legacy needs live on. This initiative is one part of many initiatives that are taking place,“ says Hatang.

“Please contribute a little bit. Play your part and make sure that we can build a country that’s different, he said.

View list of Trek4Mandela list of climbers.