By Matthew R. Weir, M.D.
Head, UMMC Division of Nephrology
When my son Ryan and I started talking about climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa’s tallest mountain, it was last December, and I thought then — as I do now — that it sounded like a thrilling kind of “bucket list” idea. While we are both avid sportsmen and runners, neither of us has ever taken on a challenge this big.
Getting ready for a trip is almost as fun as the trip itself. The mountain guides have sent us emails and lists upon lists of things we can and cannot carry with us. Hiking boots, waterproof pants, two pair of socks, parkas, gloves, hats, gloves and rain gear. Check. Check. CHECK. Anti-diarrheal meds, bug spray, malaria pills, more bug spray, sunscreen, and typhoid meds. Check. Check. CHECK. High altitude pulmonary edema: Diamox. CHECK!
Now, the countdown has begun. Today, only about a week from leaving, my excitement is now combined with some trepidation and anxiousness. I have worried about everything from cell phone and e-mail access to rechargeable solar batteries. And now, a bath towel. Seriously, we need to carry our own bath towel? I am hoping for a chance to bathe, especially after climbing through a 90-degree plus rainforest. But a towel? Why doesn’t the mountaineering team provide that? Should I bring my own soap, too? Shampoo? Now, I am worried if I need to pack a roll of toilet paper! A little anxious, yes — we are allowed only ten kilos to carry on our back.
We decided we would challenge ourselves even more and raise money to help support research at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Eighteen months ago, a dear friend’s daughter was medivacked to the UMMC Joslin Diabetes Center, where she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 14. Talk about a lifetime challenge for her and her family! We are deeply touched by how well she has managed her disease with maturity and responsibility, so Ryan and I decided JRDF needed a hand.
These tough economic times have hurt the financial coffers of all charities, so for every foot we climb, we hope to raise $1. Our goal is to summit at 19,341 feet, with $20,000 raised being our ultimate target. We hope to drum up a whole lot of excitement back home to help us reach our goal.
If you are reading and following us on our climb, we hope that you will make a contribution to us at: http://jdrfevents.donordrive.com/event/cureatopmtkilimanjaro/. You can also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cureatopkili.
This should be an interesting two weeks testing both my resolve to climb Kilimanjaro and to live with my son for two weeks in a tent. Wish me luck!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
This is great thing you are doing and it touches on two fronts dear to me, as a diabetic and a native Kenyan I grew up on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, My first attempt at scaling Kilimanjaro was not successful but it has always been a dream of mine to reach the summit. Bucket list I suppose but I am surely looking forward to it and I wish you all the best in your endeavor.
I agree that charities are hurting raising donations and contrinutions at this difficult time but it’s encouraging that people like you continue to raise money in innovative ways. Your decision to raise funds by climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro reminds me of last year when I climbed the slopes of Table Mountain in South Africa. It was a pleasant but exhausting experience, but luckily I didn’t develop back pain because I decided long ago to do back pain exercises every day. I wish you good luck and hope you raise the $20k.
David