By Paige Desmond    
For the Post

Lea Caragata, a professor at Wilfrid Laurier’s faculty of social work in downtown Kitchener, had never before felt inspired to take on a major fundraising challenge. But in January, she will embark on a mountainous journey.

Caragata leaves for Tanzania Jan. 8 to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for Outward Bound’s Women of Courage program.

Her goal is to raise $10,000.

The professor was inspired to go ahead with the 55-km climb after she interviewed single mothers over a five-year period as part of a research project. The findings indicated about 70 per cent of the women in the study had been abused.

The abuse women reported ranged from partner violence to childhood sexual abuse.

“After about round three of the five interviews, the women really began to disclose abuse in a very detailed way,” Caragata said.

“Everything about (the research) suggests that it’s not just these women.

“When you think of this nice Canada that we imagine we live in, we don’t tend to think there are women who feel they should stay in a relationship where they get hit every day, or demeaned or both, just in order to survive.

But abuse was such a significant finding in our research that as a society we have to acknowledge the effects of abuse in public policy.”

During the summer, Caragata reviewed her research and also began work on a book extending the discussion, with some of the women from the previous study contributing.

She started to think about doing something to make a difference and received a random e-mail from Outward Bound’s e-mail list.

Caragata had subscribed years ago when her son completed a trip.

The idea snowballed from there.

“The women are very excited,” Caragata said. “But they feel guilty that they can’t donate more.

“I am obviously hoping some people will come forward. It’s a way of giving back. People trusted me with their stories.”

Mount Kilimanjaro is located in Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania. It is the tallest freestanding mountain in the world at 5,895 metres tall.

And while Caragata said she has no experience with such a formidable climb, she is almost prepared.

“I was in good shape before,” she said. “I’m doing a lot of strength training.

“I almost feel close to ready.”

During the eight-day trek, Caragata said she will go from an elevation of 3,000 feet to 20,000 feet.

Of the eight people Caragata was set to climb with, each committed to raising at least $5,000 — enough to fund three cycles of Outward Bound’s program.

Caragata said she has been overwhelmed by the number of complete strangers who have come forward to contribute to her fundraising campaign.

As of mid-December, Caragata had received $5,000 in pledges.

The professor isn’t concerned about the amount community members can donate, but more for the show of support, she said.

“Small adds up,” she said. “No amount is too small.

“For me, it’s partly the gesture of support too.”

Since Outward Bound’s Women of Courage program started in 1998, more than 1,000 female survivors of abuse have participated in this eight-day wilderness program, which provides an opportunity to bond with others who share a common history and an opportunity for rediscovery.

“It’s kind of transformative,” Caragata said.

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For more information about the campaign, go to: http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=s72433.
Click on Donate Now, choose #1 Kilimanjaro Fundraiser for Women of Courage Program, and in the instruction box, type in Lea Caragata.