In February 2014 I'm climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Traveling with a company called Action Challenge (http://www.kilimanjarochallenge.com/), I am embarking on a 6 day trek to reach the top of the mountain at 5895 m (19,341 ft).

While taking on this personal challenge, I will also be raising money for Room to Read, an organization that began in Nepal in 2000 by bringing donated books to rural communities. Room to Read currently operates in ten countries, including Tanzania, where Mt.Kilimanjaro is located. Because I work in publishing, I feel strongly about the value of books and the impact they have in today's global society.

"We envision a world in which all children can pursue a quality education, reach their full potential and contribute to their community and the world.

793 million people across the globe lack the ability to read and write. That includes every medicine bottle, employment ad and ballot form they encounter. Of all the illiterate people in the world today, two-thirds are female and over 90 percent live in developing countries."

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