I'm part of a self-funded team that plans to cover a total distance of 150km (100km on foot in 4 days + 50km on bike), and summit Gombaniya (1,906m), the highest peak of the range, as the largest all-female team to ever attempt this route. The objective of the expedition is to raise awareness and funds, a team total of $50,000 USD, for the economic empowerment of underprivileged women in Sri Lanka, via UN Women, to help build their climate resiliency.  

In the past decade, climate related disasters have led to the loss of 700 thousand lives, 1.7 billion people affected and economic losses of USD 1.4 trillion. These effects disproportionately affect women and girls. Multiple discriminations mean that women are more vulnerable in crises and post disasters situations than men. In view of this, the team will meet with representatives of UN Women while in Sri Lanka to learn more about the issues women face in this part of the world and how supporting the economic empowerment of women in rural areas of the country helps strengthen their resilience to the destructive forces of climate change.