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STAMFORD, Conn. Laura Katz is taking her three daughters hiking next week. This is no ordinary walk in the park, however, for the Stamford family.
Katz and her daughters Tori, 13; Abigail, 15; and Jillian, 17, will climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Climb for a Cure 2 is a fundraiser for the International Rett Syndrome Foundation. Rett syndrome is a disorder of the nervous system that leads to developmental reversals, especially in expressive language and hand use. Rett syndrome occurs almost exclusively in girls and affects about one out of every 10,000 children.
Laura and Jillian climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2008 and raised $40,000 for the foundation. Katz and her daughters leave June 6, which is the final day of school for the girls at Rye Country Day. The climb begins June 8. Laura figures the climb of 19,340 feet will take eight days.
The family became aware of the disorder through an acquaintance. Jessie Lebson, now 14, was diagnosed with Rett syndrome at age 2.
We thought if were going to do something, we should make it more than about ourselves, Laura Katz said. I didnt know much about mountain climbing before, but I do now.
The girls have been training by walking on a treadmill at steep incline with additional weight on their backs. The Katz team will also enlist the aid of porters to help bring essentials. Tori is also completing the climb as part of her mitzvah project.
The challenges and obstacles on Kilimanjaro do not compare to challenges that girls with Rett syndrome face, Tori Katz said on a website devoted to their climb.
People who interested in supporting the climb can visit their fundraising page.
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