Southwest Floridian raises $20K for children in orphanages

In less than a month, several Southwest Floridians will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro as the final step in a fundraiser to help raise money for orphaned children.

Haven of Hope International, a local nonprofit, is raising money for their Klimbing for Kids campaign. Now the team is preparing for the climb.

Megan Garcia, along with the company she works for, The Laser Lounge Spa, in Naples and Estero raised $20,000 for the climb.

The money raised is for Future of Hope, a vocational program that provides funding for employable vocation training or college tuition for children in orphanages across the world.

Garcia and the other climbers will be taking on the mountain on Sept. 18, and Garcia said she’s facing her fears for a good cause.

“There’s 153 million orphans. And the numbers show that 70% of the girls that age out turn to prostitution, 60% turn to crime, and then another 10% just commit suicide. So it’s a real need. So I’m climbing for money to give them the training that they need in life skills,” said Garcia.

Garcia is working with a personal trainer three times a week to prepare. She also promised to send pictures from the climb when she returns.

You can find more information about the climb by clicking here. You can donate to the cause by following this link.