Whistler Water One Climb to raise funds for Free The Children

Grouse Mountain is launching the Whistler Water One Climb and challenging youth, community members and business leaders in the Lower Mainland to dress in blue and “flood the Grind” on Saturday, June 22, 2013.

The event will raise funds for Free The Children clean water projects in Kenya, supporting the charity’s year-long Water Initiative with a goal of providing clean water for 100,000 people.

The Whistler Water One Climb will transform Grouse Mountain into a dance party, featuring a pre-climb rally at the base of the Grouse Grind and an after-party at the top. At the summit participants will be inspired by Me to We speaker Spencer West, the young man who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro last summer, despite losing his legs at the age of five.

After joining a Free The Children “water walk” in Kenya last summer, Grouse Mountain President Stuart McLaughlin was inspired to create this event.

“When you have to carry water from the only source over many kilometres, a 50 litre barrel of water leaves a dent in your skull and a lasting understanding of the daily challenge in these Kenyan’s lives,” said McLaughlin. “Free The Children proves to young people every day that they can make a difference in our world, and we are honoured to partner with them on the inaugural Whistler Water One Climb.”

Free The Children has been operating in Kenya since 1999. Through its holistic and sustainable Adopt a Village program, they’ve engaged many communities across the Maasai Mara Region of Kenya. In addition to clean water projects they have built a health centre, multiple schools and school rooms, an all-girls boarding secondary school, libraries, kitchens and teachers’ accommodations.

”Year after year, the team at Whistler Water and Grouse Mountain continue to graciously support Free The Children both locally here in Vancouver and internationally, supporting our developing communities,” said Devon Kennedy, Director of Operations, Western Canada, Free The Children. “This year, with Whistler Water One Climb, they are taking their support to a whole new level, and we are so appreciative to them for helping us raise awareness, while supporting our overarching Water Initiative goal of bringing 100,000 people clean water for life.”

Clean water and sanitation projects include boreholes and wells, water catchment systems and piping of clean water into a school or community.

“Climbing the Grind and raising funds will be a challenge for our kids, but nothing compared to trying to survive every day without access to clean water,” McLaughlin added. “With the school year winding down, this is the perfect time for young people and their families to get active, have fun and make a difference.”

WHAT: Whistler Water’s inaugural One Climb, a one-day event at the Grouse Grind to raise funds for Free The Children clean water projects in Kenya.

Participants who sign up before May 12th will be entered to win cool prizes from ivivva, DC, Grouse Mountain and Whistler Water.

WHY WATER:

• 1 in 10 school-age children in Africa drop out once they reach puberty because they don’t have clean or private washrooms to use at school.
• Around the world, 1 out of 4 deaths in children under the age of five is due to a water-related disease.

WHO:

Youth, their families, local businesses and community leaders. All registered participants receive a complimentary download on the Grouse Mountain Skyride as well as access to all alpine experiences that day.

WHERE:

Base of Grouse Grind, Grouse Mountain, North Vancouver

WHEN:

Saturday, June 22, 2013

• Pre-climb rally at 8am. “Get your blue on” with accessories like hair chalk or Blue Warrior face paint, and get grooving at the Mass We Day Dance warm-up.
• After-party and inspirational talk at the top at noon by Me to We Speaker Spencer West, the young man who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro last summer, despite losing his legs at the age of five.
• Participants and their families are free to take in all other Grouse Mountain general admission activities for the rest of the afternoon and evening.