Rebecca Rusch mountain bikes to summit of Mount Kilimanjaro for charity

Rebecca “Reba” Rusch; professional mountain biker, seven-time world champion, author and volunteer firefighter, and adventurer Patrick Sweeney, summited Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds and awareness for the nonprofit organization World Bicycle Relief this past March 2016. The ultimate goal was to raise one dollar for each foot of elevation, and with Mount Kilimanjaro being 5 895 m, this would equal 131 new bikes for students in Africa.

Rebecca Rusch mountain bikes to summit of Mount Kilimanjaro for charity

Photo courtesy of Pat R. Notaro/Red Bull Content Pool

Rusch and Sweeney rode, carried and pushed their bikes to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro alongside local porters and a guide. It took the duo six days to complete the round trip journey on Africa’s highest point and one of the world’s Seven Summits. Imagine cross-country mountain biking with a massive elevation gain of 5 895 m from base to summit. And not only do you have that major elevation gain, but you also have to allow your bodies to acclimatize to the extreme altitude. In order to do that, the team moved at a responsible pace to allow their bodies the acclimatization that they needed. Only a handful of athletes have completed the route by bicycle.

Rusch has been working with World Bicycle Relief since 2013. “I love a monumental challenge like this, and it’s even more meaningful if our adventure can help change the world,” said Rusch. She rode a Niner JET 9 RDO with components, wheels and tire upgrades chosen specifically for her endeavor. Her bike is now available for auction and all proceeds will benefit World Bicycle Relief.

The World Bicycle Relief mobilizes people through The Power of Bicycles®. To accomplish its mission, they design, manufacture and distribute high quality bicycles to entrepreneurs, healthcare workers and students across rural Africa that withstand the challenging terrain and conditions in the rural, developing areas. The entrepreneurs use the bike to increase productivity and profits. Students are able to attend class more regularly and their academic performances improve. And healthcare workers visit more patients in less time, providing better, more consistent care when they have a bicycle. World Bicycle Relief train over 1,000 field mechanics locally to help assemble bicycles and maintain them which promotes local economies and long-term sustainability.

Leah Missbach Day, Co-Founder of World Bicycle Relief stated, “We are thrilled to have the support of Rebecca Rusch and Patrick Sweeney on this project. To conquer Kilimanjaro by bike is beyond incredible. And, to do so in effort to empower rural African students with mobility…it’s humbling. They are beautiful role models. We’re truly inspired by this duo with what they’re accomplishing on and off the mountain.”

The short video “Riding Up Mount Kilimanjaro: The Power of Bicycles”, produced by Red Bull Media House, gives you a glimpse of the difficulties Reba and Sweeney faced on the 5 895 m ascent and descent on Mount Kilimanjaro. It also depicts the difficulties of life in Africa.

Adapted from http://www.examiner.com/article/rebecca-rusch-mountain-bikes-to-summit-of-mount-kilimanjaro-for-charity

If you’d like to donate and help support Rebecca and Patrick’s efforts for World Bicycle Relief, please visit win.gs.bikekilisupport.