Kilimanjaro Climb for Shatterproof

Dear friends, family, and those who have stumbled upon this page,

On August 16, 2024 I will begin a 9-day expedition to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, also known as the “Roof of Africa” and one of the world’s Seven Summits standing at 19,341ft! Summiting this beauty has been a lifelong goal of mine, and I am finally at a place in my life where I can make this trek a reality.

Considering this climb will certainly be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I wanted to put a larger purpose behind it and bring some awareness to a cause that has become extremely close to me - changing the paradigm surrounding addiction.

“What’s within you is stronger than what’s in your way.” it occurred to me that, saying yes to this challenge, could help me lessen the heaviness—both literal and figurative—of the loss of my Mom, Jerri-Dee Heindel, lead me back to myself, and allow me to honor her, and those who never actually reached the summit of her own “climb.” Neither my Mom, or any addict makes a choice to have an addiction. We have to stop making moral judgments. Those judgments also cause a lot of families to suffer in silence.

So why did I decide to create a GoFundMe? There is always an inherent awkwardness to fundraising, and I know it certainly can come across as "hey there friends, I'm doing this big thing can I have some money?" Firstly, let me say that this trip is already paid for in full, and if I don't raise a dime, I will be doing it for the same purpose regardless. My goal is to raise $5,000.

1. If I hit my goal, $5,000 will cover the expenses of the trek, which includes:

-Transport to and from Arusha, Tanzania

-2 nights in hotel before/after climb + food

-All National Park gate fees

-All camping fees

-Kilimanjaro rescue team fees

-Qualified mountain guide, assistant guides, porters and cooks

-Breakfast, lunch and dinner on the mountain

-Tents, camp tables and camping chairs

-Climbing permit

-Complete First Aid Kit (for use in emergencies)

-Government Climbing Taxes

-Water for the hike

-Tips for guides, porters and cooks

-Yellow Fever vaccination

- All hiking/trekking gear

-Snacks, personal medicine and water purifying tablets

- Celebratory beer at the end of the climb!

However, If I do NOT reach my goal, whatever money raised will go directly to Shatterproof. Shatterproof is working to eliminate the stigma associated with this disease. We need good treatment and we don't have that because there are too many erroneous assumptions about addiction. We need to agree that it's a disease like many other diseases, and then put money into evidence-based therapies. We have to allow people who are suffering to come out of the closet. And I think the whole paradigm of addiction: what it is, how to treat it, how to talk about it, the assumptions we make about people who use—all of that must change. It all starts by conversation. So, I am passionately supportive of Shatterproof’s efforts to do all of that. No other organization has really tried to tackle it in this way.

This will be the hardest thing I will ever physically and mentally endure, and it will never compare to the pain of addiction. BUT, at the very least, this is an opportunity to pay it forward and give back.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for the love, kindness, and consideration. No donation is too small and if you are not in a position to give, please share. If you have any questions about this effort, please feel free to contact me.

Lastly, this major challenge aims to symbolize that just because a mountain doesn’t exist in plain sight, does not mean someone is not currently climbing one.

‘The cure to darkness is light.

The cure to stigma is love.

The cure to despair is hope.’