Kilimanjaro Leap of Faith Adventure

Leap of Faith Adventure DRAFT Backgrounder
The ‘Kilimanjaro Leap of Faith Adventure’ Backgrounder
Climbing beyond limitations and beyond disease
Background
On the 23 May 2009, Lori Schneider from Wisconsin, USA became the first person in the world,
with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), to summit Mount Everest, as well as to complete the “Seven Summits”
(the highest peaks of the seven continents).
In 2011, Lori set a new challenge, the Kilimanjaro Leap of Faith Adventure, gathering together a
group of 14 adventurous men and women with MS and Parkinson’s disease (PD) on a climb of Mount
Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. At 19,340 feet, Mount Kilimanjaro is not only the highest peak in Africa,
but also the highest free-standing mountain the world. The mission will aim to raise awareness of MS
and PD and showcase how people can move beyond their neurodegenerative disease, realizing that
their limitations should not define who they are.
Living beyond neurological disease and all hea lth conditions
About Lori Schneider
Lori Schneider is a mountain climber, teacher, lifelong learner and inspirational speaker. In 1999, at
the age of 43, Lori was diagnosed with MS – a serious and unpredictable neurodegenerative disease
that could possibly lead to Lori, an avid outdoors person, being wheelchair bound. Following this
diagnosis, Lori set out to challenge any limitations associated with her MS. In doing so, Lori became
the first person with MS to climb the highest mountain in the world.
About the Kilimanjaro Leap of Faith Adventure
The Kilimanjaro Leap of Faith Adventure provides Lori with the opportunity to share the lessons
she has learned about believing in yourself and following your dreams. It is meant to challenge the
body, expand the mind and foster courage in dealing with the diagnosis of a neurodegenerative
disease.
The Kilimanjaro Leap of Faith Adventure starts on Wednesday, 13 July and the descent will be
completed on Tuesday, 19 July, involving nine women and one man with MS, alongside two women
and two men with PD and 14 climbing companions, all supporting each other every step of the way.
The youngest climber is 24, the oldest is 79 and they mainly come from the USA, with one from
Spain. All climbers have come with their own aspirations, but there is an overwhelming sense that by
climbing Mount Kilimanjaro as part of this amazing group, they will give people with dreams the
courage to set out to accomplish them, no matter what the circumstances.
The team was interviewed prior to the climb and will be upon its descent. During the climb there will
be daily updates, visuals and podcasts from the MS / PD climbers and their companions.
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Leap of Faith Adventure DRAFT Backgrounder
All this, plus profiles of every team member can be found at:
http://www.EmpowermentThroughAdventure.com/Kilimicrosite.htm or
www.EmpowermentThroughAdventure.com
Communication activities for the Kilimanjaro Leap of Faith Adventure 2011 are kindly supported by
Sanofi.
About Multiple Sclerosis
MS is a complex chronic inflammatory disease of the Central Nervous System (CNS) that affects
more than 2 million people worldwide and is one of the most common and debilitating
neurodegenerative diseases in young adult patients. Women are twice as likely to be affected. MS is
unpredictable because the time at which patients can experience relapses and remissions cannot be
estimated. This means that patients with MS have to live one day at a time. Despite major advances
in the last 15 years, MS cannot be cured. Current treatment strategies slow down the progression of
the disease, treat relapses, and manage symptoms to best preserve patient quality of life.
About Parkinso n disease
PD is a progressive neurological condition that is estimated to affect 6.3 million people worldwide1 .
The age of onset is usually over 60, but it is estimated that one in ten are diagnosed before the age of
50, with slightly more men than women affected1 . People with PD don’t have enough of a chemical
called dopamine because some nerve cells in their brain have died. Without dopamine people can
find their movements become slower so it takes longer to do things2 . The main symptoms of PD are
tremors, rigidness and slowness of movement. It is not easy to diagnose PD and there is currently no
cure. Symptoms can be controlled using a combination of drugs, therapies and occasionally surgery
to help maintain quality of life for the patient 2 .
References:
1.
European Parkinson’s Disease Association (EPDA): Prevalence of Parkinson’s Disease (2011), available at URL:
http://www.parkinsonsawareness.eu.com/campaign-literature/prevalence-of-parkinsons-disease/. Last viewed 7 July, 2011
2.
Parkinson’s UK: What is Parkinson’s (2011), available at URL:
http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/about_parkinsons/what_is_parkinsons.aspx. Last viewed 7 July, 2011
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