NATIONAL NEWS - Glen Austin resident in Midrand, Joahnnesburg, Mpume Nyandu is gearing up to climb the highest mountain in Africa in July to raise funds for a good cause, Midrand Reporter reports.

Nyandu will take part in this year’s Trek4Mandela initiative which invites members of the public to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds and create awareness for the Caring4Girls programme.

Caring4Girls, established by Richard Mabaso, aims to raise funds to buy sanitary wear for disadvantaged girls in the country.

Nyandu said mountains come in different shapes and forms for different people.

“For thousands of underprivileged young women in South Africa, their mountain is lack of access to basic needs, which include something as basic as sanitary towels.”

She said she decided to take part in the initiative because, as an African woman, she fully understands the plight of many schoolgirls and because matters pertaining to the empowerment of women and young girls are close to her heart.

“This is a unique and an exciting opportunity for me as it allows me to play my part in ensuring that a young girl is kept in school, while also fulfilling my quest for new experiences and challenges. My motto is, ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’. So even though I am a bit nervous, I look forward to a challenging time emotionally, physically and mentally.”

She added that despite the nerves, she has training scheduled to follow which focuses specifically on leg strengthening.

Read more on the Caxton publication, Alberton Record.