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Feb. 24, 2006
Climbing to success
Mark Fugman lost 35 pounds to prove his point.
KYLE BERGER
As the saying goes, the journey can be more valuable than the actual
destination itself. But in the case of Mark Fugman and his group
climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, there is something very significant
about reaching the top.
"I think I can get to the top. And if I can do it, anyone can
do it," Fugman said in an interview the day before heading
off to Tanzania.
Fugman is part of a group of 18 British Columbia-based climbers
living with a variety of disabilities who have taken on one of the
biggest challenges the world has to offer in order to prove a point:
that people living with disabilities can overcome even the greatest
obstacles.
The Climb for Community Living, facilitated by the British Columbia
Association for Community Living, departed Vancouver Feb. 7 for
a 16-day adventure.
Each climber had a fund-raising goal of $1 per foot that they would
climb to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro – a total of $19,341
each.
The climbers were chosen to represent various community living societies
around the province.
For Fugman, who has a mental disability, the training he engaged
in to prepare for the journey was almost as rewarding as he imagined
attempting to reach the top of the mountain would be.
"I've been training hard for several months now and I'm ready
to go," he said. "I've done mostly leg training, a lot
of walking and stomach crunches. I lost 35 pounds from training
and I feel real good.
"I can't eat cheesies, chips, popcorn or pop," he laughed.
"That's harder than climbing the mountain, because I have to
stay fit."
Mount Kilimanjaro has become a popular hiking destination because
of the many mental and physical challenges it offers. The climb
takes hikers through the mists of equatorial jungle to the snowy,
breathtaking views from the summit. Kilimanjaro is the tallest of
about 20 volcanoes near the south end of the East Africa Rift Valley.
Fugman's brother Michael said he and his family are extremely proud
of how hard Mark has worked to get ready for his mission.
"This has been so good for him and it has made him happier
and more self-assured," Michael said. "We told Mark that
it doesn't matter if he climbs to the top because the process of
him getting there has been so positive for him."
"My sister said to me that she thinks I can do it. All I have
to do is put one foot in front of the other," Fugman said.
"My family is so happy for me and I know I can do my best and
that's what I'm going to show them.
"We're taking a flag to the top to wave and say we made it.
I'm worried about altitude sickness but I'm hoping I'll be OK because
we'll be going very slow."
Although his personal caregiver and climb partner had to stop her
hike early due to climate issues, Fugman reached the summit of Kilimanjaro
Feb. 17.
Kyle Berger is a freelance journalist and graphic designer
living in Richmond.
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