Gulf Coast High health teacher to attempt to scale Mount KilimanjaroBy RAY PARKER, brparker@naplesnews.com Julie Sprague adds 5 pounds each week to the
backpack she wears, even to her classroom.
And the 2 miles she jogs on her Stairmaster adds to the
challenge, especially with her bum knees.
But the 50-year-old Gulf Coast High School health teacher can
glimpse glory at the summit of the tallest freestanding mountain in
the world, Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro.
"This is something I've always wanted to do and it's for Cathy
(Robinson)," Sprague said.
Sometime on Aug. 29, Sprague will start her seven-day climb,
along with an expedition of about 10 other climbers, hiking through
rain forests the first day and six days later reaching the Uhruru
Peak, when she'll hike through darkness for much of the six to eight
hour climb, while reaching the mountain's summit at 19,340 feet.
The event is part fund raiser, part educational.
Sprague wants to raise money for the Friends Together
organization, which hosts weekend camps for children who are
infected with HIV/AIDS.
Its founder, Cathy Robinson, was happily married and expecting
her second child when the discovery that she was HIV-positive
shattered her life.
Or so it seemed.
She tested HIV positive during a routine test for life insurance.
Later, she discovered how she'd contracted the HIV virus.
She'd been raped while working in a convenience store and her
attacker, who died in prison, had the disease.
Robinson has gone on to become one of Florida's leading AIDS
activists, speaking to Collier County schoolchildren for the past
dozen years.
"She's able to connect with them in a way students understand,"
said Sprague.
And if she can find a satellite phone, Sprague wants to transmit
directly from the mountain to her classes back in Naples.
Otherwise, she'll be transmitting via laptop with a time delay,
discussing such topics as altitude sickness, HIV in Africa and other
academic areas, including math and geography.
CLIMBING
FOR A CAUSE — A satellite phone so she can teach directly while
climbing
— Frequent flyer miles from Northwest, KLM or Delta to help
her plane fare
— A synthetic sleeping bag rated for zero degrees
— Lightweight laptop computer
— Portable car battery charger
— Money for trip costs or for FriendsTogether.org.
Those wanting to sponsor Sprague can log onto http://www.friendstogether.org/.
Sophomore Lauren Gardner has heard Robinson speak the last three
years and felt inspired to get involved.
She joked about Sprague wearing her backpack and hiking boots to
class, and agreeing to the students' demands.
"If we collected enough, then she agreed to a make-over and a
date," the 17-year-old said. "She's had the same haircut since ninth
grade."
Throughout the year, Robinson's nonprofit group puts on weekend
camps for people and their children dealing with HIV/AIDS. Sprague,
who's volunteered, thinks the free camps offer people something
unique.
But organizers must turn away dozens from every camp because they
lack the money for everyone to attend.
"There is nothing else in the entire country like we do, but
because we run on private donations it is always a struggle to make
ends meet," Robinson said.
That's why the Gulf Coast teacher flys to Africa this fall.
But first, she'll return to her native upstate New York to train
in the Adirondacks.
She remains philosophical about reaching Kilimanjaro's summit.
"You can't really train for the altitude," Sprague said. "If I
don't reach the summit, no big deal, it's the journey that counts. .
. . What matters is the cause (and) bringing money to
Friends." |
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