Kilimanjaro Climb May Fulfill Wish for Ill Child

Diane Forsman won’t mind if you say that her most recent goal is a lofty one. That’s literally what it is.

Forsman, a database marketing manager, decided to combine her desire for helping others with her love of hiking, and before anyone could say “Kilimanjaro,” she had a plan.

In cooperation with the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Orange County, Forsman began collecting pledges for a climb and safari to East Africa. She hopes to collect enough donations to sponsor a wish for a child with a life-threatening illness. The average cost to grant a child’s wish is $3,500, according to the foundation.

So far, she has collected 65 pledges for a total of $1,500. Pledges range from donations per vertical foot trekked to contributions for completion of the whole climb.

Forsman’s ascent of Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, will begin Sunday. The six-day journey will take her through lush forest and highland desert before she reaches Uhuru Peak, the 19,340-foot snow-capped summit of Kilimanjaro.

Though she has never made a major climb, Forsman is optimistic. She has been preparing for her trip by mountain-biking, running and hiking.

“You know, climbing Kilimanjaro is nothing like climbing Mount Everest,” she said. “But it’s still quite a mental and physical challenge.”

At 29,028 feet, Everest is the highest mountain in the world.

Forsman, who recently turned 31 and just completed a master’s degree in business administration at UC Irvine, said her climb is “like a birthday, Christmas, graduation present and vacation all rolled into one.”

She will travel to Africa alone but will join a climbing expedition of nine other hikers and a guide.

“I’m always looking for new goals, as well as ways to improve myself,” Forsman said. “And with this climb, I’ll also be helping a child. What could be better than that?”

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Granting Wishes

* The Make-a-Wish Foundation of Orange County has granted more than 950 wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses in Orange County. Wishes are considered for kids 17 and younger.

* Make-a-Wish Foundation of Orange County: (714) 476-9474; the Web site address is https://www.wish.org/orangecounty/index.html

* To make a pledge for Diane Forsman’s climb, call her at (714) 472-3123.