The timing of this expedition also coincides well with the Africa Decade of Disabled People, which aims to promote awareness and commitment to full participation, equality and empowerment of people with disabilities in Africa.
The expedition starts on 13 February 2005 from the Lemosho Glades just outside Arusha in Tanzania. The final destination will be the Summit on the 21 February 2005. Other information about the trip and the daily progress can be found on www.elcfed.org.
The local charities that will benefit from this expedition are Ir-Razzett tal Hbiberija (Park of Friendship) www.razzett.com, Step By Step Foundation and Kane Corradi.
The Step By Step Foundation, a relatively young non-profit organisation, was set up by parents of brain injured children and Kenneth Cremona Caruana, a qualified occupational therapist and child neuro develop-mentalist, with the common goal of providing brain injured children with a better future.
The Foundation assists brain injured children with their physical, intellectual and social growth by setting out an individualised exercise programme incorporating elements of physio, occupational and speech therapies aimed at encouraging the child to become as independent as possible. Parents are trained to carry out their child’s daily exercise regime, which is reviewed on a regular basis and altered according to the progress achieved.
Nine-year-old Kane Corradi, a twin, was unfortunately born with a very rare debilitating condition (Chromosome 13 deletion) which, among other things, affects his body’s immune system to disease and renders him severely handicapped both physically and mentally and in need of constant special attention and care. Kane’s disabilities prevent him from growing, eating, speaking, learning or walking normally.
He suffers from a further grave condition, namely that of retinoblastoma i.e. cancer of the eyes, and has in fact already lost one eye. The other eye needs regular specialised treatment, which is not available in Malta, and Kane has to be taken to London hospitals for children, on a regular basis. The local Health Services have, up to now provided him with free hospitalization, but in view of his precarious condition, his mother Luana has to accompany him personally every time he goes to London for treatment, at great financial cost. Regrettably, this huge expense may in future prohibit Luana from taking Kane up for the necessary treatments.
Malta is not only the smallest and one of the newest European member States, but also currently the only European country taking part in the expedition. If anyone would like to help financially they may do so through: Bank Of Valletta, Floriana Branch, St Anne’s Street, Floriana VLT 15 Malta.
Account Number; 4001 3653 925
Account Name: Shawn Pisani, Kilimanjaro Trek for Charity 2005