wheelchair user‚ student and co-founder of The Chaeli Campaign in Cape Town‚ will start her journey to become the first female quadriplegic to summit Kilimanjaro.
On Friday‚ August 27‚ Chaeli Mycroft‚ a Cape Town-based ability activist‚ wheelchair user‚ student and co-founder of The Chaeli Campaign in Cape Town‚ will start her journey to become the first female quadriplegic to summit Kilimanjaro.
Chaeli is expected to begin her 7-day ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro with a team of six committed climbers from South Africa — known as the Chaeli Kili Climbers.
The aim of the climb is to raise awareness and funds in support of The Chaeli Campaign’s Inclusive Education Programme and The Chaeli Cottage Inclusive Preschool and Enrichment Centre.
The Chaeli Campaign assists more than 5‚000 people annually‚ and was founded in 2004 by Chaeli and her sister Erin‚ together with friends‚ Tarryn‚ Justine and Chelsea Terry.
Their aim was to raise funds for Chaeli’s need for a motorised wheelchair. They achieved this goal in seven weeks‚ raising R20‚000‚ which convinced them to start a non-profit organisation and continue to help other children with disabilities throughout South Africa.
The Chaeli Campaign works towards inclusion and growing an awareness of the ability of people with disabilities.
On August 30‚ the second day on the mountain‚ Chaeli will celebrate her 21st birthday.
According to www.discoverafrica.com Chaeli was awarded the International Children’s Peace Prize for her work as an ability activist in 2011. The prize is an initiative of Marc Dullaert‚ chairman and founder of the Dutch KidsRights Foundation‚ and is awarded annually to a child‚ anywhere in the world‚ for his or her dedication to children’s rights.
On April 24 2012‚ Chaeli was awarded the Social Activism medal at the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Chicago‚ Illinois. Former president‚ FW De Klerk‚ presented Chaeli with this medal.
She received the 2013 World of Children Youth Award which recognises a young person under the age of 21 who has made significant contributions in the lives of other children.
As a sportswoman‚ Chaeli completed her first Cape Town Cycle Tour with her cycling partner at the time‚ Grant Kruger in 2013. They crossed the finish line in 5 hours‚ 29 minutes and 43 seconds.
In 2014‚ Chaeli decided to team up with her running partner‚ Tom Goold. They completed the 21km Cape Town Gun Run in 2 hours and 18 minutes.
This year Chaeli and her dance partner‚ Damian Michaels‚ competed in the annual Wheelchair Dancing World Cup which took place in The Netherlands in April. The couple won gold in both Ballroom and Latin sections and they are now double world champions.
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