A group of 12 local women will be climbing Mt Wilhelm in Chimbu Province next week in awareness for leukaemia.
Leukaemia is a cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow where blood cells are made.
The 12, who are actually members of a mentorship group called Winged Mentorship and Empowerment Agency (MEA), will climb to raise funds, to support PNG’s Cecilia Ali Leukaemia Foundation (CALF).
Led by Mary Handen, the group will leave Port Moresby on August 26, spend a day at the base camp and climb on Saturday, August 28.
According to Mary, the group will start ascending at 1 o’clock in the morning in order to reach the summit by 6 o’clock sunrise.
Mary, who lost her 12-year-old grandson Jedrick Moale to leukaemia in 2014, said this climb is a way to give back to the community.
She said there is little knowledge of leukaemia in PNG and this fundraising will assist PNG’s CALF, which is in fact PNG’s first ever leukaemia foundation, to raise awareness on this type of cancer.
Alice Temelloso, CALF event and fundraising coordinator said the walk is the biggest fundraising for the foundation, since its establishment.
“So we’re just excited that this is happening now and we’re just going to grow from strength to strength and with the support of women like Mary and the support of people of the country, we’re hoping that this will get bigger.”
Alice Temelloso (right) and Mary Handen confirming their partnerhsip in July.