At their peak: Cancer patients, survivors conquer Mount Kinabalu

Twenty five climbers including Stage 4 breast cancer climber scaled Mount Kinabalu during Klimb Kinabalu expedition to commemorate MAKNA's 25th anniversary. -NSTP/Courtesy of Makna.

By Olivia Miwil - August 15, 2019 @ 12:01pm

KOTA KINABALU: Climbing Mount Kinabalu is a tough challenge even for physically-fit individuals, but several cancer patients and survivors managed to scale its peak, recently.

Renee Aziz Ahmad, who is living with stage four metastatic breast cancer, said that her experience at climbing the tallest mountain in Southeast Asia was mentally and physically challenging.

“My left foot slipped on a wet stone and I fell. As I sat there on the wet ground feeling miserable and rather defeated, Dee Lu (fellow climber) appeared in front of me with crispy M&Ms, jelly babies and electrolytes to cheer me up.

“After resting awhile along the trail with an emergency blanket wrapped around me, I looked out at the amazing view, which instantly reminded me why I was there.

“I was there because life is too precious to waste my time over all the ‘What ifs’. What if I can’t? Or what if I fail? I was there because sometimes, it’s better to have tried and failed than to have done nothing at all and wish I had,” said Renee, who is also a two-time cancer survivor.

Gan Li Li, another chronic myeloid leukaemia cancer survivor, said despite the heavy rains, cold blustery winds, high mountain steps and sore leg muscles, she was undaunted, and is now looking for even higher and tougher mountains to climb for more experience and insights.

“It is because that’s how life works. No matter what happens, which in my case, being diagnosed with cancer – never be defeated by it.

“Take one step at a time, but always be prepared. Cancer is not the end, but the beginning of a stronger journey,” she added.

Renee and Gan were among 25 climbers from across the country who took part in the recent expedition known as Klimb.

Klimb is one of the National Cancer Council Malaysia’s (Makna) most anticipated annual fundraising efforts.

Initiated in 2012, Klimb Kinabalu is a cancer awareness and fundraising event organised primarily to raise the level of cancer awareness among the public, and at the same time, generate funds to help financially-challenged cancer patients.

The expedition’s pioneer, Vemanna Appannah, said that the campaign has always attracted like-minded volunteers for a cause that is close to their hearts.

“This is the 7th series of Klimb Kinabalu… and Makna’s 25th year of operation.

“The last 25 years have been an incredible ride for Makna, as they were remarkable years of warmth, friendship and support. We appreciate our donors and supporters who have been a force of good for the growth of Makna, and helped to take us to the next level,” he said.

For over 25 years, Makna has assisted 53,404 adult and paediatric cancer patients, averaging 5,000 cases per year.