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It Happened to Alexa Foundation 'Climb for Alexa' trip to Mount Kilimanjaro

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Wed, Sep 23rd 2015 11:55 am

On Saturday, Sept. 26, Chris Tybor, owner of ChrisFit, will embark on a trip of a lifetime to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Africa. As part of the trip, he'll raise money for the It Happened to Alexa Foundation.

Rising 19,340 feet above sea level, Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa and the world's highest freestanding mountain. Sir Edmund Hillary climbed Everest "because it was there."

The Alexa expedition provides the organization's friends and supporters with a unique opportunity to reach personal goals, cross one off their bucket list and, most importantly, raise much-needed funds and awareness.

"After Ellen Augello from the Alexa Foundation initially contacted us to sponsor, and then asked me to climb, I felt honored to support such a good cause," Tybor said. "We try to donate as much in-kind gifts/funds as possible to help the community. Once I accepted, I used my clients and late father as motivation for training.

"We 'punish' our clients with burpees when they tell us that they 'can't' do something. So when the alarm went off at 4 a.m. to do the spin bike at home or later at night after dinner was done and emails were answered, I just focused on trying to be a good example for our clients and gym members as well as trying to make my father proud."

Tybor was given a goal of $10,000. As of Sept. 15, he has raised more than $8,000, with almost all his donations coming from individuals in the Niagara County area. The amounts varied from $25 to $1,000. One comment from a donor read, "You care so much about the community! So nice to see, this will get you to the $6K mark as of now. Nice work!"

Executive director Augello said The Alexa Foundation is proud to have Tybor on board.

"I have no doubt that Chris will succeed in his climb; I would expect nothing less," she said. "He operates as though failure really never is an option - just ask his clients.

"We expect a full report of his adventure with photos, including the Alexa Foundation logo featured prominently!" she added.

The organization will have another opportunity to climb in June 2016.

It Happened to Alexa Foundation is a 501(c)(3). A portion of funds raised through this event will go to the victims of sexual assault the organization supports.

Founded by Tom and Stacey Branchini, It Happened to Alexa Foundation honors the courage of their daughter, Alexa, who survived a traumatic rape by a stranger who broke into her college dormitory the second week of her freshman year. Based in Lewiston, the one-of-a-kind foundation provides financial, emotional and advocacy assistance to victims who prosecute their attackers.

It Happened to Alexa Foundation is planning to celebrate 12 years of successfully supporting hundreds of victims of sexual assault and their families, aiding U.S. citizens in 48 states and 17 foreign countries. For more information, visit www.ithappenedtoalexa.org or call 1-877-77-ALEXA.

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