With a great love for things well below sea level, teenage ocean advocate Stephanie Wooley set her sights high above — she decided to climb Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds and awareness for ocean protection.

Not only is it the highest peak in Africa, at 19,336 feet, Mount Kilimanjaro is also the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. Wooley had little to no previous climbing experience, but with an appetite for adventure and determination to rise to a new challenge, she was undaunted.

Wooley assembled a group of five friends and family members to hike Kilimanjaro with her to support her Finathon fundraiser. With bags packed and tents and camping materials prepped, Wooley and her group set off with their guides on an eight-day trek. Each day, climbing started in the early hours of the morning when skies were clear. Averaging five to six hours of straight hiking and climbing daily, Wooley and her group pushed on through rainforest downpours and wind chill with tired, aching muscles and bouts of altitude-induced lightheadedness.

Though physically challenged, she was motivated to persevere by gorgeous scenery, including lush forests and gushing waterfalls. Surrounded by Africa’s beautiful, untainted landscape, Wooley couldn’t help but be reminded of the beloved underwater ecosystems she was fighting to protect.

On her last day hiking toward the summit, Wooley and her group set out on an eight-hour hike beginning at 11 p.m. “As I was climbing toward the top, it was pitch-black, and if you looked out across the horizon, you could see the curve of the earth,” says Wooley. “It was an amazing sight I’ll never forget.”

Six hours into her final ascent, battling muscle fatigue, exhaustion and signs of mild hypothermia, Wooley made it within 1,600 feet of Kilimanjaro’s peak. Pushing herself to her limits, the mental and physical challenges — as well as the reward of her experience — exceeded her expectations.

“The experience was more challenging than I had anticipated, and I surprised myself to see how capable I was,” says Wooley. “I learned that I am stronger than I had realized.”

Wooley’s efforts not only helped generate funds and awareness in support of ocean protection, they’ve also shown that most individuals are capable of so much more than they realize.

To host a fundraiser in support of Project AWARE’s ocean protection programs, visit finathon.org.

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