Challenge21

“So you’ve climbed the highest mountain in the world.
What’s left? It’s all downhill from there.
You’ve got to set your sights on something higher than Everest.”

- Willi Unsoeld, upon his historic first ascent of Everest’s West Ridge

While transforming Challenge21 from concept to reality in 2011, Willi Unsoeld’s insight served both as a constant reminder & inspiration for Jake Norton.

[singlepic id=1751 w=320 h=240 float=right]Having climbed & photographed most of the world’s greatest mountains for over two decades, Jake was seeking a way to use his mountaineering skills to make a positive impact on the world.

In her 10 years of working with Water For People and from visiting & working in over 40 countries, Jake’s wife, Wende Valentine, understood the critical need for water & sanitation around the world and she knew the statistics…

• 783 million people (nearly 1 in 8) worldwide do not have regular access to safe drinking water. (WHO, 2012)
• An estimated 2.5 billion people (nearly 1 in 3) lack access to adequate sanitation globally. (WHO, 2012)
• Diarrhoea is estimated to cause 1.5 million child deaths per year, constituting about 15% of total child deaths under five in developing countries. Childhood diarrhoea is closely associated with insufficient water supply, inadequate sanitation, water contaminated with communicable disease agents, and poor hygiene practices.(WHO, 2012)

In 2011, Jake & Wende combined their efforts and together founded Challenge21 to help combat water and sanitation problems around the world.

Challenge21 is a series of expeditions to the three highest peaks on each of the seven continents – The Triple Seven Summits – with a goal of raising at least $2.1 million for Water For People and to get at least 2.1 million people actively engaged in the water and sanitation crises and solutions.

The expeditions are completely funded by corporate sponsors, resulting in 100% of the donations raised going directly to Water For People.

Water For People

[singlepic id=1748 w=320 h=240 float=right]Water For People is dedicated to creating reliable drinking water resources, improved sanitation facilities, and hygiene education programs in the developing world. The organization currently operates in 10 countries in Africa, Asia, Central America and South America.

Water For People’s approach is to create an environment that promotes an integrated partnership amongst the local public, private and non-profit sectors with the communities themselves at the center, so that outside support is never needed again.

In other words, the organization focuses on solutions that provide lasting coverage for Everyone, Forever. And it aims to achieve this in 30 regions throughout the world (approximately 4 million people) by 2018.

The Challenge21 Triple Seven Summits

Challenge21 was launched on Earth Day, April 22, 2011 and since that time Jake has climbed nearly eight (he’s on Mt. Kenya as I write this) of the 21 mountains.  The 21 peaks include the extremely difficult K2 (Pakistan), Kangchenjunga (Nepal/India), Logan (Alaska), and Tyree (Antarctica).

( √ = completed as of July 2012)

North America

South America

Europe

Africa

Asia

Oceania

Antarctica

Getting involved

From corporate sponsorships, to school fundraisers, to individual donations, everyone can join the Challenge21 efforts.

Donations of all sizes are welcomed to help Challenge21 & Water For People deliver safe water & improved sanitation solutions around the world.

Learn more & donate on the Challenge21 website.

Related articles:

An interveiw with Jake Norton >>

Jake Norton speaks about Everest’s West Ridge >>

Shortlink to article:  http://wp.me/P2qW5j-Rs

Article by Kim Hull

Photography courtesy of Jake Norton & Wende Valentine.

Photography may not be used without explicit permission.

Kim Hull is a Partner with Chasing Light Media and publisher of the online magazines Cycling Perspective & Middle Aged Ski Bum.

Photography and/or videography may not be used without explicit permission.
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