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Kannemeyer left the United States last week to travel to Africa and embark on the journey that raised awareness and funds for an Independent Living Services Center for St. Christopher’s developmentally disabled children at its 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 Mount Kilimanjaro.” said Robert Maher, CEO.
“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.”
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 role model. A South African native, Kannemeyer grew up in a ghetto outside 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.
Kannemeyer will speak about his Mount Kilimanjaro climb during the annual Superhero Gala hosted by St. Christopher’s Inc. on Thursday, 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.
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