Local employee selected for charity mountain climb
MISSISSAUGA, ON - Jeff Shikaze, age 50, from Oakville, Ontario, has been selected to climb Ethiopia’s Simien Mountains on behalf of Trek for Kids, a global initiative from global healthcare company, GSK and charity Save The Children.
The trek, which is expected to conclude on March 27, is the second global Trek for Kids. Jeff works at GSK Canada’s Mississauga office and is one of 40 employees who have been selected from 39 global offices in 25 countries to participate in the trek.
The employees will be trekking to Ras Dashen, the 5th highest mountain peak in Ethiopia, reaching a height of 4,550m / 14,736 ft. The trek will last 7 days, and all participants have undertaken nine months of physical training in preparation.
Trek for Kids, part of GSK’s global partnership with Save the Children, aims to raise £182,000 for the charity, most of which will support a vaccination program for mothers and children in Ethiopia. GSK covers all costs to participate in the challenge but have asked all those selected to help raise £4,550 each through fundraising and donations.
On being selected to participate, Jeff said, “I am so incredibly proud and honoured to be selected for Trek for Kids. I have always wanted the opportunity to do something as adventurous as this, which is completely out of my comfort zone, while at the same time doing something for the good of others. The physical and mental challenges of trekking up a mountain is both exciting and energizing for me and to do it while raising awareness and funds for Save the Children is an amazing opportunity.”
Last year, Jeff helped plan and participated in GSK Canada’s employee organized Ride for Kids, which raised over $200 000 for Save the Children. Jeff continued, “Save the Children is a very important charity and I’m looking forward to understanding more about their partnership with GSK and what they have achieved so far in Ethiopia. In the final weeks of preparing for this trek I am both extremely excited and terrified. This will be epic!”
Save the Children has been working in Ethiopia for decades, providing high quality healthcare and supporting families to ensure that their children have enough nutritious food to eat. You can donate to support Jeff’s climb at https://www.trek-for-kids.com/
About GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
GSK is a science-led global healthcare company with a special purpose: to help people do more, feel better, live longer. Employing approximately 2,000 full time employees across Canada, GSK has two divisional headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario and Laval Quebec, and an administrative office in Quebec City. Initiated in 2013, GSK’s partnership with Save the Children aims to help save one million children’s lives. Employees from around the world have raised an impressive £3.2 million (approx. $5.6 million CDN), which is matched by GSK. In 2018, Canadian employees raised $100,000 for Save the Children. For further information, please visit www.ca.gsk.com
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