Since the early 1980s the Sandton SPCA has carried the torch in the fight to protect lost, abandoned and abused animals in the vast area that constitutes Sandton and the eastern metropolitan, including areas such as Alexandra, Betrams, Bez Valley, Troyeville and Hillbrow.
The impact of this work is felt not only by the animals the organisation has reached out to but also by the communities in which it operates. "It's often a misconception that as the Sandton SPCA we only deal with wealthy areas and subsequently have a lot of funding but, quite contrary to that we are currently facing a serious financial shortfall and it is only through initiatives driven by our supporters, such as the Kilimanjaro Challenge, that we can raise enough funding to continue the much needed work we do," says Candice Scorer, PRO and fundraising manager at the Sandton SPCA.
The group of climbers joining the expedition has spent some time understanding the importance of the work the SPCA does and the plight of the animals in the surrounding communities. The climbers have been actively joining in on various outreach programmes including a mobile clinic day in Alexandra township where they rolled up their sleeves and opened their hearts, helping the Sandton SPCA deworm and vaccinate over 250 dogs in one morning.
The climbers will be leaving on 2 September and are looking to raise over R500,000 through this initiative. If you would like to support their climb or follow their progress during their climb, you can find them on Facebook at facebook.com/SandtonSPCAKilimanjaroChallenge.
