Marketing Officer Takes On Mount Kenya Challenge

By Toria Cox

Mount Cook’s Marketing Officer, Victoria Cox, is climbing Africa’s 2nd highest mountain, Mount Kenya, in aid of charity.

Mount Cook Adventure Centre, a not-for-profit organisation based in Derbyshire, is sponsoring their Marketing Officer to climb Africa’s 2nd highest mountain in aid of the charity, Team Kenya.

Victoria Cox will join an organised group in Nairobi, on Sunday 17th February, to begin a 4-day trek to Mount Kenya’s Point Lenana, at 4,985 metres. Before taking on this challenge, Victoria aims to raise £500 for Team Kenya, a charity which is committed to educating girls, empowering women and transforming communities in rural Kenya.

Victoria said: “I am so grateful to have the opportunity to travel to Africa next month, to climb Kenya’s tallest mountain! It’s going to be the most physically challenging trek I’ve ever faced, so I am currently a mixed bag of excitement and nerves. However, I am privileged to be taking part in such a spectacular challenge, and to be raising money for such a worthy cause as Team Kenya.”

“As a charity, Team Kenya performs valuable work to empower girls and women in Ndhiwa, a rural community where the marginalisation of girls and women is rife. I was shocked to learn that, of 100 girls starting a typical primary school in Ndhiwa, fewer than 16 will reach secondary school. I’m a strong believer that everyone has the right to access quality education, so the work this fantastic charity does is very close to my heart.”

Team Kenya, founded by Valerie Wilson in 2008, is dedicated to working with the community of Ndhiwa to improve gender equality, so that girls and women in rural Kenya can create their own bright futures.

Only 50% of girls within Ndhiwa currently complete primary school, and 62% of girls have experienced sexual violence or threats within school. Team Kenya tackles the barriers that prevent girls from accessing quality education through various projects. These projects include mixed-gender football designed to reduce Gender Based Violence, improving economic sustainability and food security through Agribusiness Training for women, and supporting girls to stay in education by providing training for parents, teachers and chiefs to improve academic performance, safety and security for girls in and around school.

To support Victoria in her fundraising efforts, Mount Cook will be hosting a Zip Wire Charity Event on Saturday 9th February, from 10am – 12pm. The price is £10 pp for adults, and £5 pp for under 18s, with limited places on the Zip Wire available! The cost of the trip has been kindly covered by Mount Cook, so 100% of the proceeds from the Zip Wire event will be donated directly to Team Kenya.

You can also make a donation to Team Kenya via Victoria’s Just Giving page: justgiving.com/fundraising/victoria-cox19