St. Christopher's Executive Climbs Mt. Kilimanjaro for Charity

It took seven strenuous days, but Ossining resident and St. Christopher’s, Inc. Development Director Kurt Kannemeyer has reached the top of 19,500-foot Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, one of the tallest mountains in the world.

Kannemeyer left the United States last week to travel to Africa and embark on the journey that raised awareness and funds for an ILS (Independent Living Services) Center for St. Christopher’s developmentally disabled children at their Valhalla campus in the REACH program. The climb also honored Kannemeyer’s mother, Gladys, who passed away last year after a long battle with breast cancer.

“All of us here at St. Christopher’s are thrilled that Kurt reached the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro!” said St. Christopher’s CEO Dr. Robert Maher in a statement. “Kurt was determined, set his heart on a goal and achieved it. He is a wonderful role model for our children and is proof that you can do anything you set your mind to do. Kurt is a great mentor and has made a difference in our community with his strong perseverance. Hard work pays off and dreams do become a reality!”

According to St. Christopher’s:

On April 1, Kannemeyer set out for his climb to the summit of the highest mountain in Africa. In an environment where children are faced with their own “mountains” on a daily basis, Kannemeyer has become a shining example of a role model. A South African native, Kannemeyer grew up in a ghetto outside of Port Elizabeth in the 1980s and early 1990s, when the apartheid regime that segregated blacks and whites, rich and poor, was only beginning to be dismantled. His mother and father raised Kannemeyer and his three sisters in a tiny cottage. Despite an educational system lacking resources and morale, he was accepted to the University of Port Elizabeth and studied for a law degree.

Since its inception in 1881, St. Christopher’s has helped teens with emotional, behavioral and learning disabilities by providing a residential program encompassing comprehensive therapeutic, social and family services coordinated with special education schooling.

Kannemeyer will speak about his Mt. Kilimanjaro climb during the Annual Superhero Gala hosted by St. Christopher’s, Inc. onThursday, April 30 at Tappan Hill Mansion in Tarrytown. The ticket cost is $250 per person and sponsorship packages are available for the fundraiser event. For ticket or sponsorship information, call (914) 693-3030 ext. 2313 or email kjohnson@sc1881.org.

About St. Christopher’s, Inc.

St. Christopher’s, Inc. is an innovative adolescent development organization dedicated to helping children with special needs and their families by delivering a seamless continuum of care. We provide quality education; therapeutic intervention and life planning skills in a safe and nurturing environment with the goal of helping each child reach his/her full potential. For more information visithttp://stchristophersinc.org.

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