Fighters for burn survivors off to Everest Base Camp

• Published date: 04 May 2024
• Author: Weekend Argus Reporter
• Publication title: Weekend Argus

In February, Kloos completed a seven-year quest to climb the tallest peak on every continent – and she’s off yet again. This time, the Capetonian is joining the Avela Foundation for their second trek in six years to Everest Base Camp (EBC) to raise funds for, and awareness of, children with serious burn injuries

Cami Palomo, Avela Foundation founder, said having Kloos not only join but lead their second EBC expedition would add tremendous value.

“Kloos is one of the best of the best. And apart from her super mountaineering skills, we’ll benefit from her incredible spirit and attitude towards life.”

For Palomo, Avela has become her life’s work. The foundation, founded in Cape Town in 2016, has raised substantial funds for medical equipment and treatment. Her Umatter programme is. however, very close to her heart.

“Through this, we not only provide physical support to children with serious burn injuries, but try to heal the emotional trauma these children and their families experience. It’s for this reason we need to expand the programme to include more hospitals and training – something that cannot be done without funds.”

According to statistics, more than 1.6 million South Africans sustain serious burn injuries annually. Of them, at least 350 000 are children.

Palomo says undertaking mountaineering expeditions is quite the challenge, as it airlifts you out of your comfort zone.

“It’s for that reason that we believe it’s a great way of honouring the courage, determination and resilience of young burn survivors.”

On May 10, Palomo and Kloos will be joined by a group of five business people, including one American, who all have in the past strapped on their hiking boots to help raise funds for Avela on donations crowdfunding platform BackaBuddy.

Kloos, having reached her seventh and final summit in February – Mount Kosciuszko in Australia – is excited to be part of the group.

“The Avela Foundation is doing such incredible work, empowering and supporting children who survive serious burn injuries. Palomo and her team help transform their lives by assisting them in dealing with their physical and emotional scars. I’m so touched by the work the foundation does and am honoured to play a small role in helping.”

Kloos herself is no stranger to the darker side of life. Battling serious depression and anxiety in 2016 and in desperate need of perspective, she turned to the mountains for “help”.

“I was standing on Mount Kilimanjaro, the Roof of Africa, fuelled with an...