CLIMBING FOR MOUNTAIN
GORILLAS
Climbing for mountain gorillas is a group of mountain hiking/climbing
enthusiasts who are looking for a unique way to enjoy their passion
and help an endangered animal all at the same time.
Idea:
The goal is to offer a unique way for people to become involved with
a great cause and enjoy their passion as well as the great outdoors.
Designed to be family friendly and challenge the seasoned climber all
at the same time of helping to save a highly endangered species from
extinction. Colorado offers 54 mountain peaks that are all over fourteen
thousand feet high. All you have to do is become a member of the club,
pick a mountain in your means, solicit pledges and your off climbing
for a cause.
Tell me about the club;
Becoming a member of the club, you will be given your very own gorilla
suit. After a successful climb, you will be awarded with a certificate
of accomplishment and a custom dog tag with the name of the mountain
you conquered. What you have to submit is your pledge sheets and all
funds raised and a picture of you holding a sign or standing near a
sign of the name of the mountain you’re on top of all while in
full gorilla suit. You don’t have to climb in your suit, just
a picture at the top in it. The Silverback Summit Club is a fundraising
group of individuals created to benefit the highly endangered mountain
gorillas in central Africa. Organized by the Mountain Gorilla Conservation
Fund, this charity challenge invites climbing and hiking enthusiasts
to select and train for a challenging climb or hike while raising funds
through sponsorships. All funds raised are donated to the MGCF who has
been protecting the mountain gorillas ever since the late Dian Fossey
asked for assistance back in 1983.
Designed for either individuals or teams, the Silverback Summit Club
is a self-directed event scheduled for 2011. This means that participants
select and schedule their own challenges with the goal of participating
within a time that best fits your schedule. The MGCF will host one organized
event during the year where members gather at one selected mountain,
climb for a group picture at the top and conclude with an awards presentation
at a nearby restaurant or bar.
Why Help Mountain
Gorillas?
Mountain Gorillas are the closest link to mankind with 98.6% the same
DNA as you and me. MGCF introduced wildlife veterinary medicine in 1986
and was the first of it’s kind in the world for the protection
of a endangered animal. Today, MGCF needs to expand its veterinary program
by educating local Ugandans and Rwandans to become veterinarians. The
current facility at Makerere University, has outgrown itself and we
need more room to further the education of locals to first, protect
the mountain gorilla, then expand to other wildlife in Uganda and Rwanda.
MGCF needs support in raising funds to build a new expansion that will
provide new lecture halls and a wildlife museum to conserve gorilla
remains for future studying. MGCF was the first in the world to ever
build an "on location" vet center in 1986 for the protection
of endangered animals. Since then, 20 expatriate veterinarians have
served in the countries and now locals have been educated enough to
take over and protect their own wildlife. This is a great thing for
central Africa!
How do I pick a peak
that’s right for me?
Select a mountain with which you will have the most amount of fun, after
all, the goal is to enjoy yourself while benefiting others.
What is a Realistic Sponsorship Goal for each of my climbs?
A realistic goal will depend on the individual or group. Rather than
you picking an amount “out of the air” we suggest you refer
to the chart below and allow your sponsor to decide. Your goal is to
get as many sponsors as possible as the more you have, the more your
impact will be for the gorillas. We encourage every participant to set
an aggressive goal; this chart below will help give you an
idea fundraising targets.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT THE SILVERBACK SUMMIT CLUB
Gorilla Headquarters 1-866
gorilla (467-4552)
In Denver 720-524-0272
