45 Women During Freedom Climb 2013
As part of their philanthropic dedication to the global community, Jen Klaassens, Vice President of Programs at The Wasie Foundation; Tina Yeager, Director of Freedom Climb USA at Operation Mobilization; Jill Taylor and Debbie Dingle climbed up Mount Everest and summited Kala Patthar (18,200 feet) in Nepal, in support of the humanitarian organization, Operation Mobilization (OM). The four women were part of a team of 45 women from 12 different countries who hiked for 13 days to raise over $190,000, for the non-profit organization. The women began their nine day ascent on Thursday, April 11th and reached Mount Everest Base Camp (17,598 feet) and Kala Patthar, on Saturday, April 20th. It then took them three days to hike back down the mountain.
The Freedom Climb is a ministry of Operation Mobilization which supports at-risk women and children, specifically those who are exploited, enslaved, oppressed, and trafficked. OM works with the most marginalized and least reached people in the world and has 6,100 workers from 100 nations, serving in 118 countries. 
Debbie Dingle, Jen Klaassens, Jill Taylor, Tina Yeager
“My purpose is to be a voice for the voiceless; for those who could not declare freedom in their lives and climb out of their circumstances on their own,” said Klaassens. “This experience is not just about climbing a mountain; it’s about helping people. The climb is merely a symbolic gesture of what women and children around the world go through every single day. It symbolizes their arduous climb to freedom. When we stood on the mountain in Nepal, we declared life and freedom for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
The expedition started in Kathmandu where the women prepared for their journey and were briefed on details of their climb. With 57 yaks trailing along, the 45 women began their nine day journey by hiking to Namche Bazaar, the largest Kumbu village. They passed cliff-clinging monasteries, prayer flags and huge boulders carved with Buddhist prayers as they reached the sacred grounds of the Tengboche Monastery. Throughout their trek, the women braved ice and rocks as they reached higher altitudes and lower temperatures, resting only at night in tents. After passing the Imja Tse River and climbing to Dingboche, the women finally reached Mount Everest South Base Camp and then Kala Patthar for a view of the highest mountain on Earth. During their trek up the mountain, the women ate carbohydrate filled meals like oatmeal, bread and pancakes for breakfast, potatoes and wheat for lunches and plenty of pasta during the evenings.
South Florida Team Tina Yeager, Debbie Dingle, Jen Klaassens, Jill Taylor
The ladies began rigorously training for their Mount Everest adventure the first day of the New Year. Their routine consisted of a combination of 4 to 5 days of aerobic exercise and 1 to 2 days of strength training per week focusing on legs and core. The core is vital to maintaining form and stability on rocky and uneven trails.
Donations are still being accepted. Supporters can still donate to Jen Klaassens, Tina Yeager, Jill Taylor or Debbie Dingle’s philanthropic efforts, by visiting www.TheFreedomClimb.net and making a donation on their personal fundraising pages. The money raised will be donated to different projects in different countries where human trafficking is still prevalent.