August 31, 1999
Web posted at: 9:15 p.m. EDT (0115 GMT)

LOITOKTOK, at the border of Kenya and Tanzania (Reuters) -- When one is asked why he or she wants to climb a mountain, the typical response is, "because it's there."

That positive, aggressive sentiment is especially true of 11 blind British and East African youngsters, members of Sight Savers International, who are scaling Mount Kilimanjaro. At 19,347 feet (5,885 meters), it is Africa's highest peak.

Kilimanjaro is just another challenge for them -- not daunting, not insurmountable -- but "special", according to Sight Savers spokesperson Paila Seager.

"... It marks the 50th anniversary of the Sight Savers," Seager said, "and it is to raise funds for our cataract campaign."

The six-day expedition is a fund-raising effort that will benefit thousands of blind people in Asia and Africa.

Saving sight, changing lives

Based in the United Kingdom, Sight Savers International works to prevent and cure blindness in developing countries and bring hope to people who will never see again.

Founded in 1950 by Sir John Wilson, Sight Savers has restored sight to 4 million people and treated 45 million others for potentially blinding conditions. Sight Savers currently operates in more than 20 developing nations in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.

Sight Savers runs an integrated education program across East Africa. The children were selected from Africa, where they are mainstreamed -- attending school with sighted students -- under the auspices of Sight Savers.

The Sight Savers team brimmed with confidence as it trekked up the famous mountain with only a few stops for water and rest. For them, after conquering blindness, Kilimanjaro is just another of life's challenges to overcome.

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