In Memory of Charles “Lucky” Patton

What is Climb for Sight?

Climb for Sight is sponsored by the Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity of Pennsylvania (VOSH/PA), a non-profit humanitarian organization dedicated to reducing avoidable blindness by empowering, training, and equipping eye care doctors in developing countries. This 11-day trip will be physically challenging, but participants describe the experience as “life changing”. The climb will take six days and will be led by professional guides with the assistance of two porters for each climber. A three-day safari in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Lake Manyara area will precede the climb. Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa. It rises majestically to 19,340 feet. It is the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

"Back from the most amazing experience of my life. It was spectacular in all respects. Thank you Pete and Doug for making it a possibility. Everything exceeded expectations." Garret Lungin - Los Angeles, CA

When?

We offer scheduled, non-technical climbs over the last week in January and first week in August, annually. We can also arrange customized technical or non-technical climbs for individuals or small groups throughout the year.

Why?

Imagine being born blind. Worse yet, imagine suffering a blinding condition that could be treated. But because you were poor and lived in a remote region of the world, you spent all the days of your life in darkness. We want to prevent this tragedy. In just the three regions of Guatemala where VOSH has eye clinics, there are over 3,600 children in need of sight-saving surgery for conditions such as congenital cataracts, corneal transplants, congenital glaucoma, and crossed eyes. The cost per surgery is just $200, and VOSH’s goal is to fund surgeries for all children who have no means for seeking adequate eye treatment.

Thanks again for sending us on the trip of a lifetime. We all had so many wonderful experiences from summiting to safari. Mike Flory - Springfield, VA

Pablito before the $200 surgery.

Pablito after surgery.

Pablito Santos suffered from glaucoma in his left eye since birth. He lived in constant pain due to the high pressure. Clinic surgeons removed the eye and in its place inserted a prosthesis. Pablito is now pain free and has hope for leading a normal life. Tragedies like this can be prevented for other children in the Peten rainforest born with glaucoma with a 20-minute surgery performed soon after birth.

How You Can Participate!

First, you can climb Kilimanjaro with us! This is a non-technical climb that requires no prior climbing experience. You only need to be in good physical condition. Each participant has two options for funding the trip:

1.Raise $8,500 plus the cost of your airfare (for a total fundraising goal of $10,000 to $11,000, typically) from sponsorships and your trip is free. This includes all trip costs: food, ground transport, government fees and taxes, hotels, safari costs, airfare originating and ending in Detroit, mountain guides, porters, etc. This fund raising method is similar to many organizations like the Leukemia Society triathlon series. Approximately $6,500 goes directly to funding pediatric sight-saving surgeries in Guatemala (A $1,000 credit toward the fundraising goal is provided for each person you recruit to join the team).

2. Pay for your own trip (approximately $3,500 to $4,500, depending on airfare), and raise a minimum of $3,000 in sponsorships.

ALL RESOURCES NEEDED TO HELP YOU OBTAIN SPONSORSHIPS FROM FAMILY, FRIENDS, BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE PROVIDED.

To reserve your place on the climb, send a refundable deposit of $300 payable to VOSH/PA Climb for Sight, c/o Pete Skala, 923 Florida Street, San Francisco, CA 94110.

Once your deposit is received, a packet of fund raising information will be sent to you with guidelines on how to prepare for the climb. Your deposit is refundable for cancellations three months prior to your trip.