Project Overview and Purpose
Hi there!
My name is Josefine Steenari, I'm 24 years old and I live in Sweden. When I was born I got a CP injury that knocked out all of my will-controlled functions. That means that I am sitting in a wheelchair and that most of my communication is made with my eyes. My body doesn't function like most people´s, but I am so happy to be here!
Even though I can´t use my legs or grab something with my hands I love adventures and during the years I have had lots of fun doing things as go-cart, tandem flight, ski-cart, swimming with dolphins, bathing in 0 degrees water etc. Heights and speed gives me a rush of adrenaline and if I could I would be active all the time. Here's when I tried tandem flight :)
This summer I have set a new goal, the greatest, most challenging I have ever made. I want to get to the top of Sweden's highest mountain Kebnekaise, which is 6 909 fot/2106 meters above sea level. It lies in the north of Sweden, about an hour from Kiruna. I will have a great team with me with helpers, called "carriers" that will carry or drag me the parts where my wheelchair don't get through. We will also have guides from a company called "Swett" with us, and they have a wide and long experience of climbing mountains.
I could say that I was only doing this because I am a bit crazy and the thought of being 2000 meters high up give me thrills of adrenaline, but that is not the whole truth. About a year ago I started a page on facebook called "CP- creating possibilities" where I write about my adventures and how I see things in life. My aim is to show my readers that its possible to do most things in life, even if you are sitting in a wheelchair and have a CP-injury. I want to inspire people by doing things, If I can do it, you can!
The purpose of reaching the top of Kebnekaise as the first girl in a wheelchair is to show that everything is possible! Since it has never been done before, it will hopefully set an example and give path for others that may have never thought is was possible to see that it is doable!
Key Team Members
The helpers, as for now, are:
Magnus Andersson. Magnus is my cousin, he is strong and has helped me a lot when I travel and need assistance.
Sanna Dabolins. Sanna is a former care assistant of mine and she is a teacher in gymnastics in upper secondary school.
André Vollan Banke. André is Sanna´s fiancé and he is training out a lot!
Teresia Keskitalo. Teresia is also a former care assistant of mine. She is a psychologist and also pla American football in the highest league in Sweden.
Filip Jönsson is Teresias boyfriend and works as a personal trainer and coach. He also plays American football in the highest league in Sweden.
"Joker." The last person that will follow us up is not decided yet, it will either be my care assistant Anna Larsson or Darja Frödeberg.
Also with us on the trip will be the two guides from a company called "Swett" that are specialised in doing guided group tours. They will help us find the best and most secure ways up.
Why It's Important
I want to inspire people, whether you have a handicap or not, to dream! Nothing is to big or too small, everyone of us has their own journey and their own dreams. I was born with this body so I want to make the most out of it, and out of my life. When I get to the top of Kebnekaise I want to stick down a flag as a symbol, for life. This life, that belongs to all of us and which contains love, passion and healing.
How You Can Help
This journey won't be possible without the support of others. Both me and my team of carriers are depending on the practical circumstances to work for us to be able to make this happen. My helpers are doing this volunteerely and my aim is to provide the flight tickets, the transfer, the stay at STF Kebnekaise Mountain Station (Hostel) and the fee to Swett for them. I am doing this campaign to raise money so that each and every person in my team can join in without having to worry about money. I will pay for my own expenses of course!
and this is Swett´s facebookpage: https://www.facebook.com/swett.se/
Our Budget
The budget is in Swedish Kronor (SEK) per person
Flight ticket to/from Kiruna approx: 3000 kr
Transfer from Kiruna to Nikkaloukta: 1000 kr
Stay at STF Kebnekaise Mountain Station for four nights 4000 kr
Fee to Swett 2000 kr
Sum: 10 000 kronor = 982 € = 1187 USD (source: www.forex.se)
Total sum: 10 000 kr x 6 people = 60 000 kr = 5888 € = 7119 USD (source: www.forex.se)
The breaking point for this project to reach 30 000 Swedish Kronor and therefore the goal of this campaign is to raise 30 000 kr. Everything above that sum only makes us more certain we are good to go! :)
Social media and articles
A short video from a news report they did on SVT: https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/vast/kebnekaise-...
Here is an article in GT: https://www.expressen.se/gt/rullstolsburna-josefin...
Here is an article in Mölndals Posten:
My facebookpage: https://www.facebook.com/Iamcreatingpossibilities/
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josefinesteenari/
My email is: [email protected]
