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Donate to Cheryl’s Climb for a Cause in Support of NFSB!
In 1997, Nutley Family Service Bureau (NFSB) Board of Trustees member Cheryl Kozyra was on vacation in Wales with her husband and two daughters. While driving to Conwy Castle, she saw beautiful Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) in the distance.
With an elevation of 3,560 feet, Mount Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales. Formed by volcanic rocks more than 400 million years ago and sculpted by glaciers, Mount Snowdon attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
After a long day of sightseeing, Cheryl and her family chatted with other guests at their bed and breakfast about everyone’s adventures. A French couple said they had climbed Mount Snowdon that day, all the way to the top.
The Kozyra family’s vacation was winding down, their schedule was already packed, and climbing a mountain wasn’t even on Cheryl’s radar at the time. But as they were leaving Wales the next day, she thought to herself, “I’m going to come back here and climb that mountain someday!”
27 years later, on July 19, 2024, Cheryl will fulfill that promise. And she has graciously chosen to Climb for a Cause, turning her adventure into a fundraiser for NFSB!
“I found myself planning a trip to Wales to visit family,” Cheryl said. “I researched what climbing Mount Snowdon would involve and decided this was the time for me to do it. I found that many groups climb for charities and saw this an opportunity to do some good for an organization that does so much for our community.”
Not Exactly a Walk in the Park
Cheryl will be joined by a guide for a hike and climb along a well-defined path that’s expected to take six to eight hours. Far from a pleasant little nature hike, the journey will be intense, covering rough terrain at times over the course of 9 miles. Cheryl has been doing everything she can to prepare, although there is no place nearby to train with an altitude that’s comparable to Snowdon.
“My husband and daughters have been very supportive,” Cheryl said. “My daughter is a much more avid hiker than me and taught me to train with a full backpack. I’ll have to carry a waterproof jacket and pants, a heavy fleece and gloves, extra socks, two liters of water, and a first-aid kit – all on my back. There are so many things you wouldn’t consider as you get ready for something like this!”
Support Climb for a Cause
Cheryl is climbing Mount Snowdon in Wales on July 19 to raise funds and build awareness for NFSB and its programs that benefit so many in the Nutley area and beyond. Her initial goal of $3,560 – one dollar for every foot of elevation – has already been surpassed. The goal has been doubled to $7,120, which covers the entire round-trip quest!
“As a lifelong Nutley resident, I’ve donated and attended events, but I became much more involved in NFSB programs when I joined the board in 2022,” Cheryl said. “I love that NFSB is expanding mental health services and how the doors are always open to anyone who needs help. Everyone is so willing to support people who need it, and I’m grateful to be able to support the NFSB mission in this way.”
To show your support for Cheryl on her journey to the top of Mount Snowdon, visit the Climb for a Cause page on the NFSB website and click the “DONATE ONLINE” button. Let’s see just how high we can go together!
