Daughter Climbs Mt. Kilimanjaro In Memory Of Basking Ridge Mom

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Basking Ridge native Nirali Shah will begin climbing the 19,341-foot-tall Mount Kilimanjaro on Sunday in honor of her mother, Sonal, who lost her battle with ALS at age 66 in 2015.

Shah is hoping by doing this she can fulfill her mother’s life goal and also raise funds for a cure and international awareness of ALS — or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.

Shah grew up in Basking Ridge where she attended school and graduated from Ridge High School. Her father Nirmal still lives in the township.

“My mom was quite involved in the community as she ran for township committee,” Shah told Patch. “She was constantly doing different things for women's equality, leadership and was quite politically active. She was definitely a fighter and the strongest person I know. She would be so proud of what I am doing.”

Since Shah’s mother was diagnosed in 2012, Shah began to do everything she could to help work with the ALS Association. Shah walked every year in the “Walk to Defeat ALS” in Central Jersey and fundraised every year as well.

But it wasn’t enough, Shah wanted to do something different, much bigger for the cause.

“I wanted to keep up the momentum, but do something from a different angle,” Shah said. “My dad is from Tanzania and my mom always wanted to go and was always up for an adventure. But she never got to go before she was diagnosed. I want to fulfill her dream and raise money for a cure.”

Growing up, Shah always traveled with her parents and went on lots of hikes. She always enjoyed being outdoors.

“Hiking is one thing but climbing a huge mountain is another thing,” Shah said of her upcoming climb.

Shah and a team of six other climbers will be heading to Mt. Kilimanjaro on June 25 to begin their ascent. Through the climb Shah is hoping to raise $19,341 – the exact height of Mount Kilimanjaro. She has already raised nearly $10,000. All funds raised by Shah’s climb will go to the ALS Association Greater New York Chapter for patient care and research.

It will take Shah five days to go up to the top and one day down to come down. It takes longer to go up the mountain as the body needs to acclimate to the the altitude.

“It will be difficult but worth it,” Shah said.

To donate to Shah’s fundraiser CLICK HERE. All funds raised are benefiting the ALS Association Greater New York Chapter.

(Images provided)

Photo 1: The Shahs in 1998 during a hiking trip.

Photo 2: A recent photo of the Shahs together in Kauai.

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