IBD Adventures will be heading to Nepal from March 29 to April 19, 2010 to accompany Robert Hill as he treks to base camp prior to his Everest summit attempt.
We’d love to have you join us! Here’s the detailed information. For more information, please contact us at info@ weneedideas.com.
“You went up to that mountain as one person, and have come down a very different being”
Grandfather and Mountain Elder
Yesterday, while at work–yes I tend to do that from time to time–I was handed this wonderful piece of writing which you will find below. It had arrived via mail, along with hand painted “summit stones” for each member of our IBD Adventures Team. Each of these priceless gifts was packed along with a magnificent booklet filled with various adventure musings. Last night was spent both looking and absorbing my new kindred friend’s web blog, as well as the musings in the little handbook.
I sent my new friend an email for permission to share both his thoughts on our team, as well as his blog. What a remarkable and talented individual this latest journey has introduced me too; it would seem the magical gifts of the Universe continue to unfold in countless ways. Karibu…. Paul
There is real magic, a spirit of alchemy in being able to turn adversity into adventure, in changing barriers into opportunities and some hardy adventurers of IBD Adventures are now underway doing just that with a climb on Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Their slogan of “Changing attitudes with altitude” is a wonderfully simple, powerful concept which truly says it all – one we could all embrace in our own wandering ways…
There are some in my own family who themselves have severe IBS and a close colleague who also has Crohn’s disease. Raising awareness and support for these serious disorders is what IBD Adventures is all about.
Such endeavours help us all re-frame what is and is not a barrier in our lives. They support a better understanding of what can be done notwithstanding the personal terrain we each face. This kind of spirit and effort especially focus certain inspirational light on all that is really possible. We all face adversity… Some though, are climbing such mountains almost every moment of their lives…
Time to look up those words again: Challenge & Character.
We’ll likely find the names of the IBD Adventure Climb Leader, Rob Hill, and Clinton Shard the youngest on this Team, as well as all the rest of their adventurous group.
Please visit their link below to read more as they make their way in a journey of giving back and passing forward.
“Changing attitudes with altitude”… Don’t you just love that…
DSD
With permission from:
We made it to the top of Africa. It is a bit scary and exhilarating to attempt something where you are unsure of success. Standing at Uhuru peak with the entire team was an honor and a pleasure, something I will not soon forget.
5895 meters above sea level. That was our common destination, but as I learned early on, we didn’t all have the same starting line. The most eye opening part of the trip for me wasn’t even on the mountain. We had a couple of days in the hotel before leaving to embark on the Rongai route, and on one of those nights I ended up hanging out with Jimmy and Clinton. Listening to them trade stories about their experiences with Crohn’s Disease – realizing just how sick they were and how much of an ordeal it was to go through all the different treatments was almost unbelievable. Looking at them now, one would never guess that they were that sick so recently. To go from that to the summit of Kilimanjaro is an enormous feat.
I’ve known Rob for a number of years now, and while I’ve been aware of his battle with Crohn’s and his Seven Summits campaign, it never *fully* dawned on me until this trip how he has made it his life’s work to raise awareness for IBD as well as inspire those who have the disease (and those who don’t) to reach their goals. He’s a great team leader whose experience was invaluable.
Andy was a force – I think I can safely say that the most euphoric moment of the climb was seeing her at Gilman’s Point. She along with Paul (Super Baje!) are the kind of people you always want on an adventure like this – fun(ny) and positive 
I have no doubt that IBD Adventures is a great idea, and that IDEAS is a great cause.
Cheese plate at my place!
Well now that I am back to regular life, and almost done all my homework, I can take a minute to reflect on the trip of a lifetime I just had the chance to embark on.
First of all, the group of people I went on this adventure with were an amazing group of people. It almost seemed like we had always known each other! Each group member had something unique to bring to the table, so needless to say we were quite the gang of adventurers. I hope to be able to spend many more adventures with them.
Climbing the mountain itself was the hardest physical challenge of my life. Six months ago I would have never seen myself standing on top of the highest free standing mountain in the world, considering my health at the time. Months before the climb I imagined what it would be like finally reaching the summit. As that summit night dragged on, I had flashes in my head that I wasn’t going to make it, but that vision that I had been imagining for months kept me going, and not to mention the determination of Andy and the rest of the crew.
The most amazing thing about this climb for me is not only the amount of money raised, but the amount of awareness for IBD has grown immensely with this climb. I am very happy that other IBD patients have reached out to me looking for answers, because it always helps to be able to talk with someone going through the same thing.
This has been a trip of a lifetime and unknown to my parents, I hope to stand on many more summits with IBDAdventures team!
-Clinton
WOW, I did it!
You all helped me!
My personal goal of making it to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro with the rest of the team was reached. I am so thankful to their help and to the help of the guides and porters.
Fund raising, I reached my goal getting $1.00 for every metre I trekked up Mt Kilimanjaro, 5986 meters. I must thank all those so generous to give financial support to a great cause, the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada and IDEAS (IBD adventures).
I would like to thank Rob Hill, of IDEAS (Intestinal Diseases Education and Awareness Society) who had a great idea to trek up Kilimanjaro as a fund raiser. By attempting to “Change Attitudes with Altitude,” this climb has established further awareness to bowel disease. May future IBD adventures serve to continue to educate others about bowel diseases!
My Journey:
When Rob first mentioned the idea of taking people, average everyday people with or without IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) on various treks around the world to raise awareness of IBD, he got my interest. I signed up for the Mt Kilimanjaro adventure, when he planned this, his first trek.
This was a very personal decision that I made to go. I felt I needed to challenge myself! I have a good life, work is great, and my family is well. Since, I had not done anything for a while that challenged or “scared me,” I felt I needed this challenge.
Getting in Shape:
Not knowing how I would react to high altitude, I knew I needed to get into better physical shape for this adventure. I hired a personal trainer to assist. She came to the house twice a week for an hour at 6 am and did her magic. On the days she did not come, I walked for an hour or more every morning or evening and hiked the Buntzen Lake trails. I supplemented this training with yoga when at my Parksville home.
For three weeks before the Mount Kilimanjaro trek, I vacationed in Africa. The first week, I saw the mountain gorillas of Rwanda. The second week on safari, I visited three different animal parks in Kenya. The third week, we did a safari in 3 different parks in Tanzania. What a wonderful experience seeing all the animals. I even saw them from the air, when I went on a hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti; however, that is another story.
I found it difficult to keep up my training, when in Africa. It was difficult to do a long walk in the animal parks of Kenya and Tanzania unless one had an armed guard. I went on a naturalist walk near Mt. Kenya and we were protected from elephants and Cape buffalo by two armed guards. Even at the hotel where I stayed in the Serengeti, we called for an armed escort to walk us to the dining room. This was done for our protection, as the hotel regularly had lions drink from the swimming pool.
The team:
Prior to meeting the rest of the Kilimanjaro climbers, I had only met Rob. I met the other members of the team at the Marangu Hotel at the start of our trek. It was wonderful to meet them. I forged wonderful relationships with all of them over our seven day mountain climbing adventure.
We were an amazing team. There was someone representing each generation; Clinton in his teens, Jimmy in his 20’s, Phil in his 30’s Rob almost 40, me in my 50’s, and Paul almost 60. Each and everyone had a great sense of humour. We all had a common goal and we supported and encouraged each other throughout our adventure. Finally, we all reached our common goal and made it to the top of Kilimanjaro, the highest point on the continent of Africa!
My personal goal:
Even though we all had a common goal, we all had personal goals.
As mentioned earlier, I wanted to challenge myself. As I hiked over the six days, I constantly thought of all the people who supported me. I thought of the many hundreds of people with IBD I have worked with and who have had their own personal journeys. These people have or had the pain, the strong medications, and the side effects of those medications, the surgery, the body changes, and the work and relationship disruptions as they journeyed on. Many of these people have or had cancer. Many have lived through the diagnosis, the treatments, the chemotherapy, the radiation and surgery. They have had to face many challenges and disruptions to their lives and more and I am amazed by them all.
When the team first started the trek and saw the mountain, we were all excited to reach our goal. As each day progressed and the going got tougher, I looked up at the mountain. It seemed so far away. I often thought, how can I ever do it, I am having trouble with this hill now! I just put my head down and focused on the present step. Then I focused on the step after that. I thought about the elephants that walk slowly and plod along in Africa. I recalled the Swahili words, “Pole, Pole,” translated meaning “Slowly, Slowly!” Using my pole, pole mantra, soon I was at the top of the hill. Even though I knew what my ultimate goal was, this taught me that each and every little step was the step that would get me there. I knew I could do little steps. Eventually with some difficulty, I would reach my goal.
The day before the ascent, I was sitting in my tent at 4700 meters. I felt the effects of the high altitude. I recall I had to use the outhouse, “the hole in the floor“. My shoes were at the door of the tent. At this altitude, it took me more than five minutes to get up enough energy to put on my shoes. This experience showed me the fatigue one can feel when unwell with IBD or cancer treatments.
Especially, I learned on the day of the ascent, I needed help from my guides. Without them I would not have made it. I had a guide in front of me marking the path at night. I followed with my baby steps marching slowly, slowly behind him. As I followed, I was guided from behind by my other guide who had his hand on my back reassuring me I would not slip back on the loose rock. They carried my pack and made sure I had water and energy food. They were my personal team. They helped me reach the top and my goal. To them, I am very grateful and thankful to them for their support and help.
I relied on the guides and porters. I am positive the team relied on them too. Our team had four guides and sixteen porters. The porters carried our tents, food, and personal items as well as their own personal items. Like many people with cancer or IBD, there is a professional team to help you to reach your goals. There are doctors, nurses, laboratory and x-ray people, and friends and family who make up your team. This group is an important team to rely on!
Stay tuned for our next adventure! Why don’t you join us next time…there is always room!
Andy is an enterstomal therapist (ET), a registered nurse specialist who is trained to support ostomy patients. Ostomies are diversionary surgeries for the urinary tract and digestive system. Andy owns and operates Ostomy Care and Supply Centre, a New Westminster, BC based support for ostomy patients. The Ostomy Care and Supply Centre is British Columbia’s largest ostomy centre. The centre has two ET nurses on staff providing individualized ostomy care.
Everyone on the IBD Adventures team owes their climbing success to the dedication of the guides and porters from the Marangu Hotel in Tanzania. These folks supported the team through organization and heavy lifting. They also supported the team through friendship, kindness, laughter and song. Here’s a little tribute to the human spirit the ‘locals’ gave to the team day in and day out on the mountain and off.
To the staff, guides and porters of the Marangu Hotel: Team IBD Adventures thanks you!
“Hell, there are no rules here – we’re trying to accomplish something.” ~ Thomas Alva Edison
Through a veil of tears in my eyes, I can still see the smile on Andy’s face as she walked determinedly, the last 25 meters to the Uhuru Summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. The rest of the IBD Adventure Team had already given me the warm congratulatory embraces of success, and now our last member had joined our joyous celebration. My dear Aunt Lalie in Cape Breton had informed me my bladder was in fact too near my tear ducts, and apparently this was the cause of this overwhelming emotional reaction to our efforts.
The culmination of a seed, which had been planted some 12 years prior, had now become a reality, through a concerted team effort. The IBD Adventures team was linked in the common purpose of raising both awareness and funds for gastrointestinal illnesses, while also generating synergy through a coordinated effort, which allowed each member to maximize his or her strengths and minimize his or her weaknesses. As the most “senior member” of the team, in age alone, I felt very privileged and inspired by the motivational spirit, diversity and cohesiveness of our group. The final push to reach our goal, was a result of this energy, coupled with what I believe to be some “Higher Power” in my reserve tank, and the knowledge of family, friends and supporters whose thoughts I carried in my soul.
I would be amiss at not thanking Robert Hill, our leader, mentor, guide and friend. I am sure he felt like he was often herding cats, or perhaps teaching a kindergarten class, with our often wide variety of questions and the occasional challenge. Yet he provided the required bonding which made the team a collective cohesive unit, and ensured at all times our safety, health and personal issues were in order. With his unflagging energy and dedication, I look ahead with optimism to a very bright future for IBD Adventures and IDEAS. After all, it is a little know fact, that there were whispers in the Kili winds (and from Phil’s midnight mutterings) of Aconcagua and Elbrus.
A heartfelt Asante Sana, thank you, to all of you.
“You can take Paul out of the ‘hood, but you can’t take the ‘hood out of Paul” Head on Kilimanjaro
Facebook updated with more Kilimanjaro photos from Paul.
The whole trip has been replaying over and over again for me. It was a trip of a lifetime; I don’t know right now what is next for me. I’m going to write that list of future goals down when it comes to me. I am still feeling great and still on a high from my experiences in Africa. I hope that my health will stay strong so I can continue working towards something. It feels good to be back home on the Atlantic. And eating fish and potatoes, none of those magic beans grow down here that Rob had, I was getting used to those. And my banana plants didn’t take, aha, so I guess I’ll just be waiting ’till the next adventure, feeling like a millionaire smelling like sardines…
~ Jimmy
We’ve uploaded a few more of Jimmy’s photos to the Facebook page.
To stand on a mountaintop with each of the individuals that made up the IBD Adventures Kilimanjaro team was a great honor and a privilege for me. We have reached our goal and are now all home safe and sound. We have shared, laughed and looked down on Africa together. A summit bond has been formed with this team that will last a life time.
Andy – I now see why her patients love her so, the determination of this amazing women is matched by few. I remember Andy cresting the ridge line as she stepped onto Gillman’s Point on summit day, the sun just cracking the horizon behind her. As the rest of the team starts to focus on Uhuru peak and start to set off, Andy sits to take on water and food–very important on summit day–as we talk, she asks “Rob can I make it to Uhuru?” With the sun comes new life, I tell her “you will make it Andy,” we shared a hug on the summit an hour later.
Clinton – I’ve known Clinton and his family for a few years now. I have been with them during some of Clinton’s worst hospital stays and now was blessed to share with them one of the world’s greatest highs: the summit of Kilimanjaro. Clinton is an amazing young man that I see as being an inspiration to myself and everyone out there living with IBD. He took the training I set out for him and came to the climb strong and ready to push himself, a must when facing a task like Kilimanjaro. A natural fit into the rest of the team, Clinton showed a level of maturity that to me confirms him a natural leader as he moves forward supporting other young people dealing with IBD.
Jimmy – A trip of a life time and a friend for life! A very accomplished young man already in the music world, Jimmy continues to inspire and impress those around him. A natural fit on a big mountain, Jimmy took to climbing Kilimanjaro like he was a local and the locals took to Jimmy like he was one of their own. Jimmy kept the team in good spirits throughout the trip, with his Cap Breton charm and his ease of Swahili. I hope to stand on many more summits with Jimmy, what an honor it was to have him join the team.
Paul – For about the last 5 years, Paul and I have been trying to climb some mountain somewhere. In those 5 years I have found a very dear friend who played a big roll in putting this climb together. With all summits there comes emotions, and I will admit when Paul joined me at the summit I had tears in my eyes; it was an incredible moment to share, my friend. Thanks for all you do for IDEAS, IBD Adventures and No Guts Know Glory. “It is a little known fact that won’t be our last summit to share.”
Phil – I think I have created a monster, Phil only started climbing and trekking last year, when I talked him into walking into Everest base camp before my climb in 2008. I only had to mention Kilimanjaro and Phil was on the team and raising money for the cause. Having known Phil for around 15 years, I am happy he has grasped onto a sport I love and am looking forward to more peaks with Phil. Did someone say Aconcagua?
No summit is ever easy and we all did our work before, during and after this climb; as happy as I was to be on the summit with all of you, I am happier knowing everyone is home safe and with loved ones, for me that is when the climb is truly over and you know you made it.
