MELISSA JANKE

About Me

This is where you need to go to donate to the SHAVE OR SAVE CAMPAIGN. Click on the green "DONATE NOW" button to the right, in the area where it states to put a message for a Prayer Flag, put your vote: SAVE THE BEARD or SHAVE THE BEARD. Melissa's Full Bio & Donation Information Throughout life one is faced with many challenges. Some are challenges you create for yourself, while others can't be avoided. Climbing a mountain this size is, without a doubt, a challenge that is both physical and mental. But it is nothing compared to the challenges being faced by anyone, child or otherwise, facing life-threatening injury or illness. I’m climbing for everyone I know who has faced such a challenge and won, and for the memory of everyone who has lost. In the past decade I have had friends whose lives have been touched forever from the great work done at BC Children's Hospital. Please sponsor me and pledge to donate! BC Children's Hospital delivers child and youth health and rehabilitation services and is the province's major treatment, teaching and research facility for child health, with over 200,000 children cared for on an annual basis. Your support will help fund the treatment of life-threatening illness and injury, fragile newborns, open-heart surgeries, cancer treatments, the reparation and recovery after broken bones, and so much more. One hundred percent of all donations will be given to BC Children's Hospital with a full tax receipt provided. Facts About Mount Kilimanjaro 1. Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain on the African continent and the highest free-standing mountain in the world. 2. It is the fourth highest summit in the world, known as one of the “Seven Summits”. 3. A bit of perspective: Mount Kilimanjaro stands 19,340 feet tall. A favourite mountain of mine, Blackcomb, stands at 7,992 feet. 4. In 1889, the first successful summit of Mount Kilimanjaro was completed by German geographer, Hans Meyer, in six weeks. 5. It now takes the average person a minimum of between six to nine days to reach Kilimanjaro’s summit, depending on the route.. 6. There are three volcanoes on Kilimanjaro - Mawenzi, Shira and Kibo. Mawenzi and Shira are extinct, but Kibo is dormant. The last major eruption was 360,000 years ago. 7. Kilimanjaro lies 329 km South of the equator and stands on Tanzania’s northern border with Kenya. 8. Kilimanjaro supports five major eco-zones: rainforest, heath, moorland, alpine desert and glaciers. 9. An estimated 10-15 deaths occur annually from severe altitude sickness, hypothermia, falls, and other medical problems. 10. Approximately 25,000 people attempt to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro annually. Approximately two-thirds are successful. With a minimum donation of $40, I'll also be carrying Tibetan Prayer Flags with any messages you wish. Let the challenge begin.