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Other Articles:
Terri Petry Secures Grant from Home Depot
Hamilton Rotarian climbs the Himalayans to raise money for the “Wheels of Life”
District recognized program sets a new record!
Hamilton Rotary Salutes a new President and Gives Out Annual Awards
News
Hamilton Rotarian Climbs Himalayans
Raising Money for
"Wheels of
Life"
Recently, Joe Scandariato, Sr., a member of the Rotary Club of Hamilton Twp was invited by his son Joe, Jr. to join in a once in a lifetime adventure to trek on and up the 3rd highest mountain in the world, Mt Kanchenjunga.
The trek is unusual on several levels: first the approach to the mountain is through northern India in an area that has been closed to outsiders for more than 20 years. Secondly it is sponsored by the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania as part of their MBA course to teach leadership and decision-making under adverse and even life threatening conditions. Finally Joe, Sr. is almost 70 and has had surgery on his knees twice in the past 10 + years.
The trek was a gift from Joe’s son so he immediately entered a program of vigorous conditioning and training to get in shape for the Mar. 2004 Trek. While he was undergoing this grueling process, Joe thought it might be a good idea to take this gift and use to benefit others. He proceeded to contact Rotarians in that section of India and invited them to join with him and the Rotary Club of Hamilton to develop a project that would benefit that region of India, our local region here in Hamilton Twp and the Rotary International Foundation.
The program was organized to raise money by selling “steps’ on the Trek. It was determined that app. 500,000 steps would be taken between the training and the trek itself. It was determined that 50% of the proceeds would be used for a project in India, 25% would be used for local projects and 25% would be given to the Rotary Foundation to benefit such projects as the eradication of polio world wide and the Foundations scholarships for peace programs.
While Joe was in India meeting with local Rotarians, it was determined that the single greatest need was to provide medical services to a large part of the population that is never reached by regional medical services and that the part of the population that was at greatest risk is women in outlying areas who are dying from forms of cancer that can be easily treated if detected early. To that end Joe and his Indian counterparts are developing the concept of a mobile clinic that will bring services to the people who do not get these services. The project is called “Wheels of Life.”
Joe did make the trip; he did meet with the people. His goal was to plant the Rotary Banner at the highest point he achieved. Unfortunately his legs (in spite of all the training) gave out at 11,020 ft. and he had to climb back out the mountain with 2 Sherpas and a guide. He had to be satisfied to wait for his team at the 5,500 ft. level. He did plant the flag at 11,020’ and then he gave the flag to his son to carry it to the high point and plant it for him and Hamilton Rotary at the high point. Joe, Jr. did that at 18,000’
So Joe, Sr. and Joe, Jr.’s “excellent adventure” is over and yet it has just begun. They are back from the top of the world and must now continue the project by gathering money to do the job. The process is underway and with the already generous support of many individuals and corporations the initial goal of $20,000 is on the way to be met; and the continuing support of individuals and corporations will get us to our initial goal and well beyond because the “Wheels of Life” cannot be a “one shot deal” and must have continued funding to be successful on a continuing basis to be effective.