~ Seattle, Washington - USA ~

I love climbing mountains. En route to Alaska three years ago, through a window in Seattle's airport terminal, the highest glaciated peak in the lower 48—Mt Rainier—drew me into her mammoth face and demanded I return. On August 14th this year, Mt Rainier had her way.

Simultaneously, in Mumbai, India a staggering portion of the world's 27 million slaves struggled to make it through another living nightmare. Often, children stolen or purchased from poor rural families under the lie of a "better life" or "education" are forced into ruthless prostitution.

This year, Climb for Captives partnered with Internatonal Justice Mission. Together, we will reach our goal of raising $40,000 so that IJM can carry out a raid on a prostitution ring in Mumbai, India. First, this will result in the rescue of 18 children and their placement in aftercare. Second, in collaberation with Mumbai law enforcement and the local justice system, IJM will see to the arrest and imprisonment of these children's estimated 34 perpetrators.

We're climbers, not lawyers. We don't know how to holistically tackle the issue of human trafficking. IJM does. IJM does not climb mountains. The Climb for Captives vision is quite simple—we're doing what we do so they can do what they do.

By the numbers:

7 - climbers summitted Rainer at...

9 - o'clock in the morning on the...

15 - 'th day of August 2009 for...

18 - children to be rescued from slavery and their...

34 - perpetrators to be imprisoned for involvement in the Mumbai human trafficking industry. We must raise...

40,000 - dollars together for this to happen.