6 down - 1 to go: Everest - 8848m, higher than eagles soar   Elsie Bezuidenhout has completed 6 of the 7 summits as defined by http://www.7summits.com. She is looking for sponsorship for climbing Everest, thus becoming the second South African female to complete the 7 summits. You can contact her on 0824685613 (or internationally +27824685613), or e-mail her at ebezuidenhout@momentum.co.zaThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   WHO IS ELSIE BEZUIDENHOUT? I am a 47 year old South African female, employed by Momentum for the last 15 years as a Systems Analyst/Programmer in Wealth IT (Momentum Investment House).

WHAT DEFINES ME?

I strongly believe that adventure is not beyond man, but within as quoted by David Grayson.  I do not want to exist, I want to live life fully.  To escape the routine I challenge myself with goals that seems out of reach and undertake the journey to conquer myself, my dreams and my fears.  I am a driven individual and do not leave any stone unturned when pursuing my passion in life! Mountains not only challenge me physically but also mentally, it reduces life to the simplest most basic elements and forces me to forget about trivial issues that fills everyday modern life.  Outside becomes irrelevant as I focus on the essentials of survival.  Mountains have taught me not to be intimidated by the size of a challenge but to approach it step by step.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

MY GOAL

My goal is to try to successfully climb the highest mountain on each continent!  There is nothing new in this ambitious challenge, but the fact remains that to date well fewer than 300 people have ever accomplished this feat - a handful of South African men and only one South African woman. Money to finance this project is perhaps the hardest challenge to face even the most determined of climbers.

MOTIVATION

Cathy O'Dowd
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Cathy O'Dowd (born in 1969) is a South African rock climber, mountaineer, author and motivational speaker, famous for being the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest from both south (25 May 1996) and north sides (29 May 1999).

Only two South African woman have reached the summit of Everest so far ….

Only one South African woman has accomplished the seven summits up to date ….

If I can manage to raise the funds:
I can be the third South African woman on the summit of Everest.
I can become the second South African woman to reach the 7 summits!

OPPORTUNITIES

Publicity for sponsor
Campaigning and raising funds for a good cause such as abused woman and children or cancer patients or human trafficking (First for women drive)

FUNDING REQUIRED EXPEDITION - Mount Everest

Duration: Two months+

COST OF EXPEDITION