It is important in life not to be strong, but to feel strong, to measure yourself at least once. If you want something in life, reach out and grab it.
— Christopher McCandless
The Mission
In 2018, male survivor and Weekend of Recovery alumnus, Jordan Masciangelo, decided that he wanted to do something to give back to the healing community that had, quite literally, saved his life. He had a deep desire to take his years of sexual abuse awareness activism to the next level — to make an impact, something that would make a statement…
Years earlier, after a 3-month backpacking stint through the deserts, mountains and jungles of South America, Jordan discovered the incredible power of adventure healing — an untapped resource that he describes as the Holy Grail of trauma recovery.
Adventure inherently involves experiencing a certain level of risk, stress, and mental and physical challenge. It compels self-awareness, body-awareness, trust, interpersonal skills and problem solving promoting growth, confidence and empowerment. These cylinders fire all at once, eliciting profound personal change.
Removing yourself from the day-to-day, leaving your comfort zone and pushing your limits can give anyone brave enough to try, a perspective on life that would otherwise be unfathomable. Adventure has the ability to tap into all the good and all the bad giving you the opportunity to really see who you were, who you are, and who youre becoming like a mini microcosm of your healing journey. The experience has the power to gel who you are as a person.
After watching a documentary on mountaineering the worlds tallest summits, Jordan made the decision that the statement he wanted to make and share with other survivors of sexual abuse was that life isnt about just surviving. Survivors can do and be so much more. It was time to move beyond survival. Jordan made the commitment to exemplify this -he was going to climb one of the worlds highest mountains, Mount Kilimanjaro in East Africa, and raise money for male survivors along the way.
Jordan spent over a year preparing for the trip – both fundraising and training for the climb. He ran social media campaigns and male survivor awareness fundraisers with small businesses and his local gym. Then, in January of 2019, the time came to make this dream come true. Jordan set off to Tanzania, Africa to begin a healing journey that became so much more than just a climb. He documented the entire experience and produced an inspiring short film.
Click the Video Below to Watch
On January 26, 2019, after 10 days on the mountain, Jordan successfully completed Kilimanjaros Northern Circuit Route, taking him through five climate zones and over 60 miles of mountain terrain.
His Kilimanjaro Expedition Challenge raised over $9,500 which was directly donated to the MenHealing Financial Assistance Fund, ensuring more men the opportunity to heal and tell their stories.
Thank You, Jordan, for your support and your inspiration
