Dear family, friends, loved ones, and newcomers:
For those of you who don't know me, my name is Mike Fanning and I am embarking on a quest for the Seven Summits to raise money for Save the Children.
I initially began this project with the plans of raising money solely for Save the Children's CHANGE program (Creating Healthy, Active, and Nurturing Growing-up Environments) that focuses on fighting the obesity epidemic in Rural America by providing children with health education and healthy snacks. However, since my first climb in Russia the natural disasters in Haiti and Japan have challenged me to rethink where the funds I raise would best be allocated. While the physical health of today's youth is very important to me, I feel that any monies raised for the Seven Summits for Save the Children project should go where it is most needed at the time. I trust in the people who head Save the Children to judiciously disperse all funds where they can have the most impact.
In case you aren't familiar with this mountaineering challenge, to climb the "Seven Summits" is to scale the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. The list is as follows:
Aconcagua (22,840ft) Argentina, South America
Denali ("Mount McKinley," 20,320ft) Alaska, North America
Kilimanjaro (19,339ft) Tanzania, Africa
Mount Elbrus (18,510ft) Russia, Europe
Vinson Massif (16,067ft) Ellsworth Range, Antarctica
Carstensz Pyramid (16,023ft) Indonesia
Mount Everest (29,035ft) Nepal, Asia
Having climbed Mt. Elbrus in the Caucuses of Russia, Mt. Aconcagua in the Andes Range of Argentina, and most recently Denali in Alaska, I know that I can physically handle the rigors of high-altitude mountaineering. The bar is set high, but I am confident in my abilities to see this all the way through.
What I ask of you is a small donation each time I reach a summit. Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts. My next climb will be Mt. Kilimanjaro, hopefully this coming January. Stay tuned for more info!
Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!
Thanks so much.
Sincerely,
Mike Fanning