39 celebrities and business people taking part in the Trek4Mandela initiative were given a royal send-off at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Monday. The “trekkers” are embarking on a 5 895 metre journey up Mount Kilimanjaro.

As part of International Mandela Day, the climbers will summit the mountain on July 18, in efforts to raise as much funds as possible to create awareness of the plight of girls in need in rural and poor schools during their menstrual cycles. It also encourages dialogue on issues of puberty and adolescence.

There aim is to ensure that 270 000 girls across the country get much needed assistance.

Trek4Mandela founder Richard Mabaso says he is overwhelmed at the amount of support this initiative has received. Speaking to SABC News, Mabaso says the support to ensure the success of the programme as well as the trekkers has been heartwarming.

Monday 13 July 2015 14:49

Among those who have endorsed that campaign is Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, who has pledged R 100 000 to the programme, and has further given his commitment that he will partake in the next mountain climb.