Ukrainian Canadian to climb Kilimanjaro for Children of Chornobyl (02/08/04)

Ukrainian Canadian to climb Kilimanjaro for Children of Chornobyl

by Andrew Nynka

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - If things go according to plan for Ukrainian Canadian Bohdana Zwonok, she will celebrate her 51st birthday atop Africa's highest peak on February 15, having summited the 19,340-foot-high Mount Kilimanjaro as part of a campaign to raise money and awareness for victims of the world's worst nuclear catastrophe.

Ms. Zwonok told The Weekly in a series of e-mail and telephone interviews that she hopes to raise $1 for every vertical foot she climbs up the extinct volcano and said that the money will benefit victims of the 1986 nuclear disaster in Chornobyl, Ukraine.

"I have long been distressed about the fate of the innocent young victims of Chornobyl," Ms. Zwonok said prior to leaving for Tanzania from her home in Quebec.

The adventurer and world traveler said several trips to Ukraine recently spurred her decision to support victims of the Chornobyl accident.

"As I sat on the summit of Ukraine's highest mountain, Hoverla, mindfully taking in the fantastic view, and having noticed in previous traveling days the difficult challenges facing the people of Ukraine, the idea came to me to hike and climb some of the world's more challenging mountains while raising funds and awareness for the youngest innocent victims of Chornobyl," said Ms. Zwonok, who was a member of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization in her youth.

Ms. Zwonok and her friend Vivian Elferink plan to ascend the mountain in parallel, meeting one another each night at predetermined camps along the route. The climb is expected to take four to five days, depending largely on the weather, and is often regarded by professional climbers as one of the world's great mountaineering expeditions.

Ms. Zwonok's goal of climbing the African leg of the "Seven Summits" - the highest peak on each of the seven continents - is meant to raise $19,340, while any donations made in excess of that amount will go to a predetermined children's charity in Tanzania, according to the official website that is promoting Ms. Zwonok's trek up Mount Kilimanjaro (www.contenta.com/kili).

As of February 3, Ms. Zwonok had raised nearly $8,000, although both women have indicated that they will continue to accept donations until the end of 2004. Ms. Elferink is looking to raise money for the Children's Wish Foundation.

The Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund (CCRF), which is headquartered in Short Hills, N.J., will be the beneficiary of any donations made to Ms. Zwonok's campaign from individuals or businesses located in the United States, while donations made from Canada will go to the Children of Chornobyl Canadian Fund (CCCF).

"Both organizations are respectively helping many clinics, hospitals, treatment centers, orphanages and summer convalescent camps for the children of Chornobyl. They are aware of the most pressing needs and have key, dependable front line workers in Ukraine that are networking with them," Ms. Zwonok said of her chosen charities.

Individuals interested in donating to Ms. Zwonok's campaign should contact either of the two organizations directly. Ms. Zwonok said that donors can make donations out to "Climbing for the Children of Chornobyl."

CCCF can be reached by e-mail at cccf@idirect.com and its mailing address is: CCCF, 2118 Bloor St. W., Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario M6S 1M8.

CCRF can be contacted by e-mail at info@childrenofchornobyl.org and its mailing address is: CCRF, 272 Old Short Hills Road, Short Hills, NJ 07078.

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