Simon DeCesare takes on Kilimanjaro challenge to support Uganda education projects
In January 2026, Simon DeCesare stepped back from his roles in boardrooms and business strategy to undertake one of the toughest endurance events in the world: Mount Kilimanjaro, with the SiGMA Foundation expedition team. While climbing Africa’s tallest mountain is a noteworthy achievement on its own, it’s also about taking personal limits further while building a lasting impact on the communities that need help the most.
For Simon DeCesare, the CEO of Eden Leisure Group, this expedition was a unique blend of leadership, resilience and philanthropy. Months of training, both physically and mentally, ended in a challenge that pushed his limits at every stage of the expedition. However, the journey does not stop on the summit of Kilimanjaro.
All expedition participants had committed to personally fundraising to support the SiGMA Foundation’s charity initiative. Simon raised over €25,000 for educational and community-related projects in Uganda, far exceeding his target, and was the top fundraiser on the expedition.
Simon’s accomplishment is not only a representation of his own commitment to making a difference but also demonstrates the potential to leverage corporate networks and communities for a good cause.
A challenge beyond business
Mount Kilimanjaro has long been considered one of the most physically and mentally challenging treks on Earth. Climbing at altitude requires months of preparation, discipline and stamina. Simon had to virtually re-create himself from a high-level executive leadership position into an environment that demands endurance, flexibility, and willpower to succeed.
Training for the expedition consisted of months of intense physical preparation to hike steep terrain in varying temperatures and at low oxygen levels. The same type of preparation was done to mentally endure long days of hiking, fatigue, and unknown weather.
The SiGMA Foundation Expedition consisted of group members from various professional backgrounds, and they all had one thing in common – a goal of purpose. During the trek, teamwork was key, and participants motivated one another through very tough times.
The expedition showed that, through cooperation in adversity, an individual can form/strengthen their bond with others based on what they have gone through together. Furthermore, the expedition fostered a greater sense of social responsibility among all members involved. Therefore, the experience was defined equally by the individuals who completed it together and by the successful summit of the mountain.
Turning fundraising into impact
Although the climb received media attention, the fundraising efforts benefit projects intended for the greater good. Fundraising efforts for Kilimanjaro also support educational and community development programs in Uganda and the SiGMA Foundation.
Simon’s fundraising efforts have contributed €25,000 towards infrastructure projects aimed at increasing educational opportunities in Uganda. As part of the foundation’s overall goal of creating a sustainable, long-term impact through education, safer places to learn, and support for the communities where the schools are located, this initiative will enable children to receive an education for years to come.
Through a results-based approach, rather than symbolic charitable giving, each contribution is used for tangible development projects that can significantly improve a family’s and children’s ability to access development opportunities in their communities, which face significant socio-economic disadvantages.
By tying fundraising to a physically challenging activity and creating a tangible account of the participants’ journey, the expedition has created a solid, engaging platform for holding participants accountable for their contributions. In this way, the men and women who donated have added a new layer of meaning to their support, as they now back a human experience closely linked to concrete achievements in their local communities.
Leadership through action
Simon’s involvement is typical of recent movements to change how business leaders use charitable activities for their own benefit. Executives are increasingly abandoning long-standing approaches to corporate social responsibility and opting for a more personal and hands-on approach to charitable activities.
Participating in a high-altitude expedition requires a certain level of vulnerability, discipline, and willingness to go well beyond your normal comfort zone as a professional. By doing this, business executives exemplify. Surviving challenges through initiative, rather than merely fulfilling the corporation’s obligations, is important.
The Kilimanjaro expedition allowed for re-establishing that, many times, the true measure of a leader will be proven through what they do, not through the words they say. In fully committing to the climb and exceeding the goals set for funds raised, Simon turned participation into a statement about responsibility, determination, and community.
In a time when businesses face stakeholder demands to be truthful in their actions and conduct, challenge-driven philanthropy provides an incredible model for creating real impact while motivating and encouraging more people to participate.
A summit with lasting meaning
Reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro marked a significant personal achievement for every participant involved in the expedition. Yet for Simon and the wider SiGMA Foundation team, the true success of the journey lies in what happens long after the descent.
The funds raised through Simon’s efforts will continue to support educational development initiatives that create long-term opportunities for communities in Uganda. The climb itself may have lasted days, but the impact generated through the expedition will extend far beyond the mountain.
By combining endurance, philanthropy, and leadership, the SiGMA Foundation Kilimanjaro expedition showcased how personal challenges can become catalysts for meaningful social change.
For more information about the SiGMA Foundation and its global initiatives, visit the SiGMA Foundation website.
