Julbo Sponsors Foundation for Blind Children's Mount Kilimanjaro Expedition
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WILLISTON, VT (June 18, 2009) Julbo, setting the industry standard in lens technology and protective eyewear since the company’s inception over 120 years ago, will be providing leading-edge mountaineering sunglasses for blind climbers from Foundation for Blind Children (FBC) for their Mt. Kilimanjaro expedition set to depart June 20.
“We’re very happy to be involved in this exciting adventure and appreciate the fact that an organization, such as the FBC, that has extensive knowledge of the dangers strong sunlight can do to the eyes, reached out to us to provide the serious level of protection they demand for this wonderful expedition,” says Nick Yardley, U.S. president.
The FBC has assembled the world’s largest team of blind climbers to ascend one of the world’s Seven Summits, Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, in hopes to garner awareness and raise funds to directly support FBC programs and offerings. The team of blind and visually impaired climbers has been training for over a year to tackle the world’s largest freestanding mountain of 19,340 feet. The expedition group is composed of eight blind climbers and two sighted guides to navigate technical terrain and avoid hazards.
“I know these climbers will get to the top. They overcome much larger obstacles every day. Kilimanjaro is nothing,” says Marc Ashton, chief executive officer of FBC and father of Max Ashton, who is attempting to become the youngest blind climber ever to summit Kilimanjaro.
Julbo’s state-of-the-art, category-four mountaineering sunglasses prove to be an ideal fit for blind and visually impaired mountaineers because they guarantee the highest degree of protection available for high-altitude and glacier active outdoor pursuits. The FBC’s personal optometrist is requiring that the every one of the climbers wear category-four mountaineering eyewear during the climb.
High in the mountains, ultraviolet radiation is extreme and very dangerous because the snow reflects 85-percent of UV light and the intensity of the UV increases by ten percent with every 1000 meter of altitude. Without proper protection, mountain climbers can suffer severe eye damage including accelerated aging of the eye and snow blindness. All Julbo lenses sunglasses guarantee 100-percent UV protection.
All FBC climbers will be outfitted with Julbo’s Tasman model for young alpinists. The Tasman features moldable temples and removable protective side shields for optimal comfort and versatility. The Spectron 4 lens encompasses all needs for high-altitude, glacier expeditions by blocking 95-percent of visible light and boasts Julbo’s Flash and Anti-Glare treatments for additional protection.
Guides assisting the blind climbers will be wearing Julbo’s adult mountaineering models, the Bivouak, Explorer and Nomad models.
Please visit See Kili Our Way for training videos and additional information on the FBC’s Mt. Kilimanjaro project.
Also, please visit the Julbo social media release site for up-to-date company news, featured products, video, sponsored athletes, and much more.
For additional information on Julbo eyewear, visit Julbo’s website or call 1.800.651.0833.
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