Cathy Cruse has been involved with the Foundation of Goodness for many years. Here she tells her story of the most gruelling of physical and mental feats, to climb the highest free-standing mountain in the world, to raise funds for the community model established by the Foundation of Goodness, and Heartkids, Melbourne.  Her efforts are awe inspiring and humbling, and we extend our gratitude to her and her husband, David, for going beyond the limits for those who have suffered so much but will benefit greatly from this climb of  a lifetime.

I left Melbourne to start my climb on the 13th July. I was nervous, excited and a little frightened, I had been training for months to get ready but nothing can prepare you for the altitude and the effects the lack of oxygen can have. Climbing Kilimanjaro was by far the hardest thing I have ever done, it doesn't matter how much time you spend in the gym or how many lunges you do, it really comes down to mental strength and how badly you want to finish. There were fitter people than me turning around and going back down because it was too hard.
 
We took five days to reach the summit and two days to come back down. You have to climb very slowly to allow your body to acclimatise to the higher altitude. The first few days were quite easy and I actually thought this wasn't going to be that difficult, but as we climbed higher our breathing became more laboured. The simple act of folding your sleeping bag in the morning took your breath away and you would have to sit and rest for five minutes, everything became an effort and we were constantly told "Pole Pole" which means slowly, slowly in Swahili.

After the second day we were above the clouds, the air became thinner but when the clouds cleared the view was spectacular. On the fourth night we went to bed early as we had to commence our attempt at the summit starting at midnight. This is to allow you to see the sunrise at the top of Kilimanjaro. We had started our trek 4 and 1/2 days ago in 35 degrees celsius wearing shorts and singlets, now the temperature was below zero and on the summit it was minus 15 degrees. I had three layers of thermals, two layers of fleece plus wet weather gear, gloves, hat and hand warmers. It was so cold the water I was carrying froze and the energy bars I had packed were rock solid. It took seven long cold hours to reach the summit, people were vomiting from the effects of the altitude and everyone had extreme headaches, people started to turn around about half way up because it became so difficult. The higher you ascended the harder it became to breathe, it felt like you were climbing with someone sitting on your chest, add to this the cold, the headaches the feeling of sheer exhaustion and every time you looked up and you still couldn't see the top it became a real mind over body struggle.

 
I had to keep telling myself "this is one day out of my life it will be all over soon, my struggle will be for one night, the people we are helping have been struggling for their entire lives." It got to the point where I was counting steps, I would walk for ten steps then have a rest, then ten more, this kept going for 7 hours.
 
When I came over the final rise and saw the sign that signalled I had reached the summit, there was no joy or screams of happiness, that would come two days later when we eventually made it back to the hotel room for now it was just sheer relief that I had done it, relief and absolute exhaustion. I had travelled half way around the world and climbed for five days and I literally took two photos, turned around and went back down. I had wanted to film the summit but the effort that was needed to get the video camera out of my bag was too much, I took my photo and left.
 
After we came down from the summit, we had to pack our things at base camp and move down the mountain to the next camp. We had started at midnight and by the time we stopped we had been trekking for 15 hours. That night in the tent a few tears were shed, the tank was absolutely empty and I had nothing left to give, it was a feeling of complete numbness.

 
When we arrived back at the hotel the next day and after having the first shower in a week, all the trekkers met at the bar for a few celebratory drinks. It was only then we could look back on what we had achieved. Climbing Kilimanjaro was not only the most physical thing I have ever done but also mentally, I have never pushed myself to those limits. I am quite proud at what I have achieved, but I know it would not have been possible without the support of my husband David. Fundraising was incredibly difficult with the state of the economic climate and the massive bushfire appeal that was held here in Australia, but as much as I pushed myself up Kilimanjaro, David moved mountains here to raise over $36,500 dollars for Heartkids and The Foundation of Goodness. So that makes everything worthwhile......would I do  it again???......in a heartbeat!!

- Cathy Cruse

Kushil Gunasekera, Founder of the Foundation of Goodness pays tribute to Cathy’s awe inspiring achievement: “It is with extreme gratitude that we acknowledge your invaluable contribution of LKR Rs. 1,780,205.40 (AUS $ 17,863) on account of your magnificent effort in raising funds not only in favour of the Foundation of Goodness but also for the worthy cause Royal Children’s Hospital. This remarkable gesture in our case will be directed towards sustainability funding of the rural community model in the Seenigama region. 

This is truly a kind, generous and thoughtful act on your part which only a rare person of your caliber can attempt to achieve and as the saying goes “Winners don’t do different things, they do things differently”.

We wish to especially extend our gratitude and sincere thanks to the many individuals who responded to your appeal for funds and supported your great endeavours.  It is through the small acts of many that we can hope for big changes for a better world, just as it was after the tsunami for us, and we will continue to depend on the support of those who value compassion and generosity. 

We, at the Foundation of Goodness on behalf of the villagers in the Seenigama region that we serve are truly grateful for the admirable undertaking which will enable us to continue in enriching humanity with the focus on empowerment of the rural disadvantaged children and youth in particular. 

2009.10.12