Getting Ready!

Yesterday I walked 4 miles at a fairly brisk pace in an hour and 10 mins. My backpack is a lot more comfortable now. Today, I went for a shorter walk but at a faster pace. I'm really getting excited and I hope March gets here quickly!

Thank you all so much for following me, and posting comments ~ I truly appreciate them all! Your comments encourage me and give me motivation to continue training very hard.

Read the story that was aired on Channel 7 News!

*Please note there has been a change in the date for the Climb. It has been moved up to Thursday March 24th!*

Donate at BCVI's website and remember, no donation is too small!

Please invite others to follow & please donate!

Hi:
Thank you for your uplifting comments.  They have really  given me hope that I will succeed.  Please invite others to donate and to follow my training and my journey. 

No donation is too great or too small.  Every penny counts.  BCVI is finding it difficult to purchase equipment that will help us in our every day lives.  We the visually impaired people need your help.  Every individual can make a huge difference.

Please donate by clicking here: http://bcvi.org/index.html

For local donations you can send a check to
BCVI            
PO Box 525
Belize City, Belize

or donate directly to our Belize Bank Account Number 71096

Rowan

...but what about the other blind children?

It's a daring adventure for anyone, especially a 12-year-old boy, and even more so, for one who is blind. But, climbing the highest point in the country of Belize, Victoria Peak, is a challenge that Rowan Garel and his father Joe are more than willing to take on for the blind and visually impaired children at BCVI.

In 2010, the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired (BCVI) faced the likelihood of not being able to carry out their Annual Summer Camp for blind children due to a lack of funding. The non-profit organization supports blind and visually impaired students year-round, with the Camps being the highlight for them and their families. While the donations trickled in and camp was successful, in facing this crisis, Rowan and his parents worried about the other kids not having the opportunity in 2011 and came up with the idea.

The Garels have been with BCVI since Rowan was a baby. Now, 12 years old and at the top of his 7th Grade class, Rowan is the model student and a wonderfully caring boy. When told about BCVIs struggle raising funds, his parents were offered the chance to send him to the U.S. for a few weeks to attend a summer camp. Although Rowan was excited at the idea, his heartfelt response was, "What about the other kids?" Many of the students and young children in the program come from underprivileged families, and are not fortunate enough to have such opportunities. So, Rowan and his parents decided to help raise funds themselves. And so came about the Climbing Ambassadors for Sight.

Training started in January 2011 to prepare Joe and Rowan for the March 24th climb. The family, along with BCVI, hope that this venture will raise awareness and funds to help support not only Summer Camp, but other educational and rehabilitative training that the organization provides to blind and visually impaired people throughout Belize. 


Please note that there has been a change in date: the climb has been moved up to March 24th!

If you would like to support this cause, please click here: http://bcvi.org/index.html

In Belize, please send your donations to BCVI at

PO Box 525

Belize City, Belize

For any questions, you can contact us via email at csdairs@gmail.com or by telephone at
 (501) 636.1130

Rowan and his pet turtle