Annie Sebastian, is the first Filipino-American to participate in the 29029 Everesting Event, an ultra-endurance trek; that covered 30 miles, climbing a total elevation of 29,029 ft (the vertical height of Mt Everest) and finished in 31 hours. The event was held in Snowbasin Utah last August 27th, 2021. She did this to represent and raise donations for the Foundation for Philippine Progress (FPP).
“It was ‘Extraordinary”, that was how Annie described the challenge. “It was amazing, life changing, and the toughest event I’ve ever done.”
The Everesting Challenge is said to be the most difficult climbing challenge in the world. With rules as simple as: Climb the height equivalent of Mt. Everest. One hill. anywhere in the world. Annie trained for 5 months to prepare for this event; enduring 20-25 hours per week of runs, hikes, and strength training. And by completing this event, she became the First Filipino to finish the challenge and fund raise a total of $29,029 for the foundation.
Donations received during the said event will go directly to those in need in the Philippines to help Filipinos get the vaccinations needed to fight the Covid-19 virus.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
The Foundation for Philippine Progress (FPP) is a nonprofit organization that secures quality health, education, and basic human rights for all Filipinos. They provide aid for those affected by earthquakes, typhoons, and floods. They also help build schools, provide medical aid, give seeds for food and help feed and educate women and children. FPP was launched last October 2018 and had served 1244 families, 2 municipalities and 7 barangays, 811 patients, 76 surgeries and 32 major cases to date.
The Foundation is dedicated to empower and engage communities in programs and projects for the Philippines to secure quality health, education and basic human rights for every Filipino. Rosella De Leon, FPP’s Executive Director, has had her share growing up with the effects of tragedy due to the natural calamities that has inflicted her hometown in Laguna and Pampanga when she was a child.
After her family migrated to the US, she flies back to the Philippines to take part in relief missions. It was during those visits and meeting the children affected by the typhoons, that triggered her to do more: the confusion, sadness, fear and hunger a child has to suffer after a typhoon struck their land… is something she wouldn’t want another to bear. “I realized that my childhood experiences don’t have to be the experience of the Filipino children. I wanted to see a world where Filipinos had access to basic health, education and human rights, and the idea for the Foundation for Philippine Progress was born” cited Rosella
PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS
Disaster Relief, Medical and Surgical Missions, Water project, Philippine Tours, Filipino Eats Week, Annual Gala, Community Donation Drive.
PARTNERS IN THE PHILIPPINES
CDRC – Citizen’s Disaster Response Center
CHD – Council for Health and Development
LCDE – Leyte Center for Development
St. Scholastica’s mission Hospital
HEALS – Health Empowerment and Action in Leyte and Samar
www.philippineprogress.org
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1537 SE Morrison St., Portland, OR 97214, USA