Liberty Executive climbing Africa’s highest mountain to keep 600 girls in school

Arthur Marsden, Divisional Director, Bancassurance at Liberty is one of the few people in the world to have completed The Adventure Grand Slam – the Seven Summits and a man-haul to both the North and South Pole. Now, to celebrate Liberty’s 60th Anniversary and Nelson Mandela’s birthday, he is joining the Trek4Mandela team to climb Africa’s highest mountain and keep 600 girls in school. He will summit Kilimanjaro on 18 July 2017.

Seven million South African girls miss school every day because they don’t have sanitary towels. Statistics like these is what inspired Marsden, “As a senior executive at Liberty, I witness every day the diversity of thought and value women bring to our business, there is no choice for me but to do something about it. This year, I’ll be climbing Mt Kilimanjaro to raise R216 000 in 6 days – that’s R36 000 a day.”

Marsden is teaming up with Trek4Mandela on the “Keeping the Girl Child in School” initiative. His goal is to collect money to keep 600 girls in school for one year. The money raised, will supply the young ladies with the sanitary products then need to secure their access to an education and give them the best chance at a successful future.

Marsden says, “As the father of two wonderfully strong girls, I feel strongly that I have to do something about the current situation.”

Marsden compares the challenges youth face in South Africa today to that of climbing a mountain. Success requires discipline, stamina and mental strength. He believes that it is vital that men take a stand and do everything in their power to bring dignity to young female leaners, so they can grow into successful women who have the power to shape our nation.

“This is why I pledged to make this climb. I am putting myself out there and taking a stand. It doesn’t matter if I am climbing a local crag or the summit of a lifetime; to me there is something in climbing that pushes me to rise above my limitations and conquer the challenge.”

Marsden is an experienced climber with the rare accolade of “Adventure Grand Slam” climbing the Seven Summits and completing a man-haul to both the North and the South Pole.

To pledge R30 to the “Keeping the Girl Child in School” initiative, send “ARTHUR” to 42513.