Feb 12 - 24, 2005

Sandy has been fascinated with climbing Kilimanjaro for several years. Having interviewed climbers, authors and moviemakers on the subject, Sandy realized that reaching the summit could be accomplished. Kilimanjaro is not a technical climb, a fact that is encouraging for the average traveler. Nonetheless, this trek will be an incredible adventure and the chance for unparalleled personal achievement. Graham Farebrother has climbed Kilimanjaro and is also the tour organizer. He will be personally leading the climbing party.

"After a few conversations with Graham, " noted Ms. Dhuyvetter, I was committed to making the trek with Graham and to do so with a charitable purpose and giving something back to this wonderful world we live in. Graham brings experience and enrichment to this adventure as we climb the 19,340 feet to the summit of Kilimanjaro and he is the recipient of the Best Luxury Tour Operator in Tanzania Award from the Tanzania Tourism Board in 2003. We are honored to be working with him and we are extending a personal invitation to all our viewers and listeners to join us as we take part in this trip of a lifetime. Not only will you be undertaking a personal challenge of major proportions, you will also be making a real difference as we help raise funds to find a cure for Neurofibromatosis, an oftentimes fatal disease that affects 1 out of every 4,000 people."

Graham Farebrother detailed the trek: " We will be taking the most beautiful route to the summit of Kilimanjaro by way of the Lemosho Glades, Shira Plateau and the Western Breach.  Our trek is longer than most in terms of distance and time on the mountain, taking seven nights to reach the summit.  This longer and intentionally slower route is not just beautiful; it is also the safest and most successful route on the mountain.  The extra days make a huge beneficial impact on the climbers' acclimatization and make the chances of a successful summit a high probability. Our guides on the mountain are quite simply the very best.  We have used them for many years and are looking forward to climbing with them again.  When David Breashears filmed his IMAX movie Kilimanjaro &endash; To the Roof of Africa, he used the same guides." Added Farebrother, "The trek will be a good physical challenge, an opportunity to raise funds for a most worthy cause and a lot of fun. We invite you to join our trek and raise funds for the fight for the cure and treatment of Neurofibromatosis.  In return for raising funds for the charity we are offering you preferential rates for both the trek and airfare. Our goal is to raise US$75,000 net funds for charity and we hope you will be able to assist us".

Neurofibromatosis

Neurofibromatosis (NF) is not a rare disorder, it is the most common neurological disorder caused by a single gene. NF has been classified into two distinct types, NF1 and NF2 with NF1 being the more common form and affecting approximately 1:4,000 births throughout the world. Both NF1 and NF2 are genetically determined disorders that affect more than 100,000 Americans. This fact makes NF more prevalent than Cystic Fibrosis, hereditary Muscular Dystrophy, Huntington's Disease and Tay Sachs combined. Both forms of NF are autosomal dominant genetic disorders that can be inherited from a parent who has NF or may be the result of a new or "spontaneous mutation" (change) in the sperm or egg cell. Each child of an affected parent has a 50% chance of inheriting the gene and developing NF. The type of NF (i.e., NF1 or NF2) inherited by the child is always the same as that of the affected parent, although the severity of the manifestations may differ from person to person within a family.

Although most cases of NF1 are mild to moderate, NF can lead to disfigurement; blindness; deafness; skeletal abnormalities; dermal, brain and spinal tumors; loss of limbs; malignancies; and learning disabilities. NF also has a connection to developmental problems, especially learning disabilities, which are five times more common in the NF population than in the general population.

NF is worldwide in distribution and affects both sexes equally and has no particular racial, geographic or ethnic distribution. Therefore, NF can appear in any family. Accordingly, NF research may benefit an additional 100 million Americans (i.e. 65 million with cancer and 35 million with learning disabilities).

NF research began eighteen years ago by the National Neurofibromatosis Foundation and has been enormously productive ever since.

Costs: Climb Kilimanjaro for $999!

For this charity trek the cost is US$999 plus airfare. If you agree to raise US$5,000 or more, for charity we will charge you just US$999 for the trek.

The trek on Kilimanjaro is ordinarily priced at US$3,861 per person plus airfare from Newark, which is typically US$1,775 for a total of approximately US$5,636.  However, Absolute Adventure Travel is heavily discounting the trek rate in order to raise funds for Neurofibromatosis research. In addition, we have a special airfare from Newark to Kilimanjaro International Airport, via Amsterdam, on KLM for only of US$1,584 per person - a saving of approximately US$200 per person. 

There are two ways participants may pay for the trek:

1.) Participants pay only US$999 per person for the trek and raise US$5,000 or more for the charity Texas Neurofibromatosis Foundation &endash; a 501 (C) (3) organization. Donations will be eligible for tax deductions as allowed by the IRS.

OR

2.) Participants pay the standard trek fee, US$3,861 and a donation of $577 will be made by Absolute Adventure Travel to Texas Neurofibromatosis Foundation.

Accommodations, Private transfers, Full Service Trek,

Not included in the price:

Any items of a personal nature such as hotel or camp extra charges, telephone calls, souvenirs, immunizations, passports and visas, travel insurance and gratuities.

Not included in the price:

Any items of a personal nature such as hotel or camp extra charges, telephone calls, souvenirs, immunizations, passports and visas, travel insurance and gratuities.

If you are interested in learning more, go to: www.traveltalkradio.com/kili

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