Sibusiso Vilane’s second expedition to the summit of Everest for charity has kindled the support of three major South African organisations.

SA Sponsors Host Telethon in Support of African Everest Expedition

PLP, De Beers, Batsalani and Transtel supports charity bid

Sibusiso Vilane's second expedition to the summit of Everest for charity has kindled the support of three major South

African organisations.  Private Label Promotion (PLP), De Beers, Batsalani and Transtel have backed Vilane’s bid to raise money for charity by hosting a telethon in support of his second climb to the summit of Everest. The public will be able to call in and e-mail donations to the selected charities from Thursday, May 26, the day that Vilane commences the final leg of his four-day summit to the peak.

Leighton Curd, managing director of PLP, initiated the telethon by

volunteering his company’s call centre services on Vilane’s departure during March.

“We were inspired by Vilane’s determination to attempt a once in a lifetime achievement, for a second time, in aid of charity,” says Curd. “Our involvement affords us and all South Africans, the opportunity to be involved in Vilane’s climb to effect change for the better.”

Curd’s stance has ushered the participation of two other corporate giants, De Beers and Transtel, who will co-sponsor the telethon.

“Vilane required a commitment from people ‘on the ground’, to roll up their sleeves to raise awareness of his journey and money that would benefit his selected charities,” says Transtel CEO Carl Xhanti. “We have responded to that call.”

Charities selected by Vilane as beneficiaries include SOS Children’s Village in Swaziland, Birth to Twenty and Africa Foundation. The call centres will also allow the public to send e-mail messages, which will be sent to him to read whilst climbing Everest. The spokesperson appointed for this project is former Miss South Africa, Amy Kleyhans-Curd and brand communications agency Tin Can has volunteered its services to publicise the climb.

Vilane has been acclimatising at base camp in the Himalayas for the past month. On his departure to base camp, Vilane said, “I am thrilled at the support I have received from corporate South Africa and I look forward to seeing how many Africans support this cause. In the moments that my strength and determination wane, it will be incredibly motivating to know that it is not only me supporting the charities, but all Africans.”

People who wish to donate money towards this worthy cause can deposit their contributions into the ‘Climb For Charity’ bank account that has been set up for the telethon at Nedbank Randburg - Account number 1984-595-512 - Branch code 198405.

For further information the public can call the PLP call centre on: 0861 11 38 46. Lines will be open from 06h00 on Thursday 26th May.

ABOUT: Sibusiso Vilane: Two years after becoming the first black African to reach the summit of Mount Everest, Sibusiso Vilane plans to take on the world’s tallest mountain peak for the second time to raise awareness for South African charities. He will be climbing with fellow South African Alex Harris and world-renowned explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes. Vilane and Harris will leave Johannesburg on 24th March for the Himalayas via London and are hoping to reach the summit mid May, weather permitting. The expedition will aid charities such as the Birth to Twenty Research Programme at Wits University, the Africa Foundation and the SOS Children's Village in Swaziland. Other sponsors of his include; Anglo American and Cape Union Mart.

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