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Rowan is interviewed by a local radio station about his climb

Rowan is interviewed by a local radio station about his climb

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Scaling dizzy heights

Last year our partner BCVI (the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired) faced a shortage of funds, meaning their most valued service is under threat. Rowan Garel, a blind 12-year-old boy who has been supported by BCVI since he was a baby, has responded by setting up his own fundraising initiative: volunteering to climb one of the highest mountains in Belize to raise money for the organisation!

Lack of funds

In 2010 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 organisation supports young people who are blind or have low vision, with the camps being the highlight for them and their families. As well as being fun and including a field trip somewhere exciting, the camps teach young people who are visually impaired useful skills for living with their disability. (You can click here to read about the 2009 camp).

At 3,675 feet high, Victoria Peak was thought until recently to be the highest mountain in Belize. The going is mostly through tropical rainforest, and would pose a challenge for the most experienced of hikers. But the trek, which should take about four days, is a challenge Rowan and his father Joe are more than willing to take on for the visually impaired children at BCVI.

Doing something about it
Rowan has been attending BCVI's summer camp all his life, and both he and his parents worried about other children not having the opportunity to go to one in 2011. Many children in the programme come from underprivileged families, so a camp like this is not something they would usually get a chance to attend. This is why Rowan and his parents decided to help raise funds themselves.

"We walked long distances to prepare," said Rowan. "But the city of Belize doesn't have hills... That was a pretty big drawback! I thought the climb would be a little steep, but WOW! I have respect for that mountain."

So far he has raised 33,000 Belizean dollars (£10,000) for BCVI, and this year's summer camp will go ahead - which Rowan is so pleased about.

"I really appreciate the support I've got from everyone who's donated to BCVI. I can't even begin to tell you how BCVI have helped me over the years! They've provided all the equipment I need as well as mental support. Just because you're blind, doesn't mean you're an invalid."

To read Rowan's blog, or to sponsor him, follow the link below.

Climbing Ambassadors for Sight: Rowan's blog