Vilane returning to Everest
2005-01-20 13:38
Johannesburg - Sibusiso Vilane, who in May 2003 became the first black man to summit Mount Everest, will return to the Himalayas again in March, this time to raise awareness for charities.
But this time Vilane will attempt the summit from the more difficult and statistically less-successful side - the North Ridge, the University of the Witwatersrand said on Thursday.
Wits spokesperson Shirona Hassim said Vilane would climb with fellow South African Alex Harris and world-renowned explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes.
HAssim said Vilane and Harris would leave Johannesburg in late March for the Himalayas via London.
Vilane said: "The last time, I climbed Everest for all the people of Africa who had never been given the opportunity to do so.
"This time I will be climbing to raise awareness for three charities: The Birth to Twenty Research Programme at Wits University, the Africa Foundation and the SOS Children's Village in Swaziland."
Dreams are important
The father of three said he was aware of how important dreams were to children and was passionate about how they should be supported and motivated.
Hassim said Vilane would recount the experiences of his first climb to 100 children that formed part of the Birth to Twenty study and who would benefit from the proceeds from the upcoming climb.
He would also meet the Birth to Twenty children at Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital.
Hassim said Birth to Twenty, based at the University of the Witwatersrand, was a study aimed at understanding the holistic determination of child and adolescent health and development in Johannesburg and Soweto.
Speaking career
"This complex study, colloquially named Mandela's Children, continually impacts on current thinking about youth, and is committed to scientific research that makes a difference."
She said the study explored the socio-economic, socio-political, demographic and nutrition transition that was under way in South Africa and its impact on children and their families.
Vilane said he would like to focus more on his professional speaking career on his return.
"I would love to get involved with schools around the country, to motivate and inspire the youth to believe in their dreams and make them a reality."
- SAPA