Be Like Boy Scouts!

Posted by Patrick

November 26, 2008

With just over two months to go, it was time to step up the training…so I booked the week off from Shared Interest Foundation to immerse myself in my new fitness regime!

To kick things off, Neil and I headed to the Cheviots.

Now, I have to say that I don’t have the fondest memories of these hills. During a four-day hiking trip as part of my Duke of Edinburgh Award, I was – wait for it – airlifted from their very peaks!

Some may see this as a traumatic event and others slightly embarrassing! Either way, I took away some valuable lessons from this experience including the rule championed by the Scouts. Be prepared!

And if this is the case when walking up hills in England, you probably need the preparation of a whole army of scouts for the depths of Africa!

Anyway, back to what I learnt from Duke of Edinburgh…

My strict but empowering instructor Mr Hill taught me the power of perseverance, determination, planning and teamwork. This is, of course be rewarded by the feeling of accomplishment.

But with the Kilimanjaro climb, there is more motivational material than this personal sense of pride.

In walking for seven days up the highest freestanding mountain in the world, we will be indirectly empowering not only ourselves but thousands of Swazi producers, equipping them with the tools to lift themselves out of poverty.

And it is this, alongside preparation that will keep us going until we reach the top.