A Burlington couple is climbing Kilimanjaro in September to raise money for CAMH

Laurent and Lori Pinci, co-owners of the Burlington clinic Pillars of Wellness, leave Canada on September 22 to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The seven-day ascent begins September 24 on Tanzania's Machame Route, with Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa, as the goal before they descend on September 30.

The climb anchors a campaign called Climbing Higher Together, raising money for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. The target is $5,895, one dollar for every metre of Kilimanjaro's elevation, with donations going to the CAMH Foundation.

The part built for everyone else is the 5,895 Challenge, which asks people to set a personal movement goal rather than a fundraising one. Walking the dog counts. So does cycling to work, hiking a local trail, or getting through a set of rehabilitation exercises. "We hope people don't simply watch us climb," said Lori Pinci, an occupational therapist and co-owner of the clinic. "We hope they'll climb with us in whatever way is meaningful to them."

Laurent Pinci said the idea came from what the clinic sees every day: people working through injuries, chronic pain, neurological conditions and mental health challenges. Photos, videos and daily reflections will be posted from the mountain through the campaign while the climb is underway.