Mackie’s Mission

Hi! I am Mackie Black and I am 12 years old and I live in Mt Pleasant, SC. I am in the 6th grade at Moultrie Middle School and I have this AWESOME opportunity to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in December. It is the highest Mountain!! I think it will be so cool to hike through 5 different climate zones. I know that this will be a life changing experience!  I can’t wait to summit Kilimanjaro in the Arctic Zone! I am excited to support She-Climbs and help show other girls that anything is possible. I can’t wait to share my journey with friends and other girls.  She-Climbs.org is a nonprofit that was started by my friend’s mom, Cokie Bereyni, and is dedicated to “building the confidence and self esteem of females of all ages, one climb at a time.” I want to support, inspire and encourage all girls to feel confident and know that THE impossible IS possible if you put your mind to it.  I am also hiking in honor of my brother, Steven, that suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Duchenne is a progressive muscle wasting disease that affects mostly boys. Duchenne is usually diagnosed between the ages of 4 and 6 . My brother is 10 and can’t do a lot of things most boys his age can do. Kids with Duchenne usually lose their ability to walk between the ages of 9 and 12.  Eventually they lose their upper body strength and later on they lose their ability to breathe. There currently is NO cure. That’s not fair! I want to raise awareness and money to support research for a cure. I hope that next year my brother can summit Mt Kilimanjaro even in a wheelchair. I know that this dollar amount is A  LOT! Here’s where the money will go!  Money raised will sponsor She-Climbs.org and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (both are tax deductible organizations.  Please! Please! Please consider helping me reach the top!!! And did you know that Kilimanjaro means “Shiny Mountain” in Swahili? I can’t wait to share with you all the great things I will learn!!! I would greatly appreciate any support that you can give!!! Thank you!!
Mackie