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Hugo Man Prepares To Climb Kilimanjaro For A Cause

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Twin Cities man will climb Africa's highest mountain next week to raise awareness for a global yet often overlooked problem.

Steve Hall, 38, of Hugo, arrived in Tanzania on Thursday, preparing for a grueling, seven-day summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

He hopes he's ready. He's had just two months to prepare.

"I've been on the treadmill a lot, running on an incline just trying to get my legs under me," Hall said. "It's really a hike, not a dangerous or technical climb. As long as you can avoid getting altitude sickness, you can make it to the top."

In some ways, Hall was recruited for this climb by an organization designed to drive awareness and change to the global clean water crisis. Summit on the Summit aims to engage the community through supporting education, inspiring advocacy and activating fundraising.

Summit has attracted actors, photographers, activists, educators and humanitarians for the climb. Hall, the Director of School Programs for Minneapolis-based H2O for Life, was a perfect fit.

"At H2O for Life, we teach children about the global water crisis -- how kids just like them in different parts of the world have to go through daily struggles," Hall said. "It's amazing how children, particularly girls, are burdened daily with the job of fetching dirty, heavy water and carrying it long distances."

H20 for Life is currently conducting more than a dozen projects across Africa, Asia and Latin America. The projects include new wells, latrines and hand-washing stations.

On Twitter
Summit on the Summit: @SOTSK
H20 for Life: @h2oschools

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