Ambassadors for Mobility - General Donation

AMBASSADORS FOR MOBILITY

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Welcome to the Donation Page of
Nicolai Calabria

	550 Chairs - $32,560
	25 Chairs - $1,480
	10 Chairs - $592
	5 Chairs - $296
	2 Chairs - $118.40
	One Chair - $59.20

Enter Donation Amount Here: *Currency shown: US Dollar $

My Fundraising Goal:
$100,000.00

Money Raised to Date:
$105,943.60

If you are unable to donate online, please print out a donation form.

Join me in my efforts to support The Free Wheelchair Mission!

The summer of 2007, I celebrated my 13th birthday, a significant milestone in our family. To celebrate becoming a teenager, my father offered to take us anywhere in the world on a “coming of age adventure”. I had been researching many places in the world that I could go. Yes, I could go somewhere to relax and think about nothing but lying on a beach, but it would be much more memorable to do something life changing and exciting.

I chose, for my coming of age adventure, to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. I was inspired by a Nova series on PBS entitled “Volcano in the Clouds”. I also watched a movie that truly inspired me, “Emmanuel's Gift”. If you get a chance, please watch it! This movie gave me the idea to make this not just an adventure but also a way to support the disabled community of Tanzania. The movie made me realize how fortunate I am to have such a great life. Many people with limb differences (as I since I was born without a leg) or other challenges aren’t so fortunate. Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah contacted the Challenged Athletes Foundation and asked for a bike. He then trained and rode his bike across Ghana. This ride resulted in many wonderful changes for the disabled people of his country. This is where I learned about the Free Wheelchair Mission.

My parents contacted the Free Wheelchair Mission in Irvine, CA, which has set up a “Calabria Kilimanjaro Climb” fund. In September 2007, I reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest freestanding mountain in the world at 19,340 feet tall. We used the Rongai approach that starts at 6,400 feet. We travelled 40 miles over seven days and ascended a total of 12,940 feet. My original fundraising goal was $25,000, and as you can see, I have well surpassed that goal! There is one less Tanzanian in need of a wheelchair thanks to your support. That thought kept me going even as we approach the summit where wind chill temperatures were forty below zero.

I am very thankful to everyone who has currently supported me and continues to change the lives of those not only in Tanzania but all over the world!