Hiking and climbing in the mountains isn't just good for personal health. Ralph Cochrane and Léah Cournoyer of Toronto believe it can affect the course of human medical history.
They are founders of an ambitious series of climbs to sponsor the search for a cure for multiple sclerosis and to help individuals and families living with the disease. On September 27, they will lead an expedition of 30 on a climb to Peru's mystery-shrouded lost city of Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca citadel cradled in the Andes.
It is one of five treks planned over a five-year span. In 2009, they'll climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania; in 2010 it's a journey along the Great Wall of China; in 2011 they will take a group to Mt. Everest base camp and in 2012, they will hike the Yukon trail. Each time, hikers can apply to join the expedition but each will have to come with sponsorship for a minimum of $7,500. The goal is to raise $1-million for the MS initiatives in the five climbs.
Cournoyer says the arduous Machu Picchu climb, which is expected to take four days and three nights, will be a severe test of mental and physical strength at the oxygen-poor altitude of 13 ,776 feet.
"Our goals are simple, " said Cochrane, " Raise money and raise hope. Our team is committed to raise a minimum of $150,000 [on this climb alone] through corporate sponsorship and individual donations."
"Canada's rate for MS is one of the highest in the world. It is therefore imperative for us to support novel and inspiring initiatives like the MS Climb," says Jon Temme, vice president of research for the MS Society. "Each pledge of support is turning the question of ‘ if ‘ we will find a cure, to "when" we will find it," says Ken Mayhew, chief development officer for MS Society of Canada.
May is MS Awareness Month in Canada. On May 14th, the MS Climb team will stage a gala called License to Cure, a James Bond theme night with music and a fashion show by designers Zoran Dobric and Lucian Matis. Details on the Climbs and the fundraiser night can be found at www.msclimb2008.com.
