Since 2005, The Mountain Movement has evolved a great deal. The campaign has inevitably changed as our lives, as co-directors, have changed, and as we have moved, become more aware, more inspired, and as the campaign has taken on a life of its own. We thought it was due time for an update on where we are at, and where we are going.

The Mountain Movement is a mentality. The movement encourages people to think beyond their daily lives, and in turn, use their ‘everydayness’ – their jobs, passions, and interests – to make a difference in the lives of people who are in need. Allow us to explain a little.

The mountains have the potential to create a “walled-in” effect for those who reside amongst them. It is somewhat easy to forget about what happens in the world outside of this pristine atmosphere. As residents of the Rockies, we felt that we needed to do something to remind ourselves, and others, of the realities that existed beyond our mountain life. For weeks we pondered how we could combine our work as servers out in Banff and our passion for hiking with an important cause that was plaguing the international community.

After exchanging many ideas and emails, in 2005 we established a new fundraising campaign called The Mountain Movement, an organization which raises funds and awareness for HIV-related issues in Africa. We chose The Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) as the beneficiary of the funds raised, an organization which helps to ease the pain of HIV/AIDS in Africa by funding community-level projects that provide care and support to women, grandmothers, orphans and people living with AIDS.

To put on the mountain attire, and take the mountain mentality beyond the confines of the mountains themselves, turned out to be a viable solution to bursting the impending bubble of unconsciousness. In the past, we have taken something we love (climbing and hiking) and something we do for work (serving) and have used these things to raise awareness and funds for the cause of HIV/AIDS. Our primary events, AIDS Climbing Week and Servers Against AIDS, have since expanded to include our coworkers, friends in the Rockies and the surrounding areas, and people who work at other establishments. Since 2005, The Mountain Movement has had the privilege of collecting $22,000 for The Stephen Lewis Foundation, as well as developed new partnerships with regional AIDS services, AIDS Bow Valley (Banff) and HIV West Yellowhead (Jasper) to raise awareness of HIV-related issues in Canada.

The campaign is not limited to these events, however. In the past few years, we have encouraged people to use what they love to do. We have had artists donate artwork for sale, with all proceeds to the SLF. One participant skateboarded from Bow Lake to Lake Louise and raised $500. Another walked 1488km across the South Island of New Zealand to raise awareness of the cause, and in the process raised $1500. These are just some examples of how people can use their passions and make a positive contribution to the advocacy of those who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

With a holistic approach to raising funds and awareness, the message we hope to send out to donors, participants, and visitors to the Rockies is that reaching out to someone in need does not necessarily require a trip overseas, a huge expense, a change in lifestyle or a major sacrifice. Instead, it can be as simple as changing one’s mindset and thinking creatively about how one’s life – as it is – can be used to help someone in need.

If you have any questions, or require more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Meghan Ward and Paul Zizka
Co-Founders and Directors of The Mountain Movement