Adventurer of the Month – Nick Sautner

I had the privilege of being introduced to Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) team through a community partnership in Western Australia. I was encouraged by the passionate staff who in turn inspired my participation in this once in a lifetime experience whilst helping to raise awareness of prostate cancer. Having lost my father to cancer at 3 years of age, I am passionate about raising awareness of serious men’s health issues and promoting regular health checks. Early intervention is the best form of prevention, we all know that. However, the best analogy I have heard for encouraging men to have regular checks with their doctor is “when your car service light flashes, most men will take their car straight to the dealership for a service – yet we don’t take notice of our own warning lights when they start flashing”.

After holidaying extensively through South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Namibia in 2013, my fiancée and I spent our 2014 New Year’s break volunteer teaching in Zanzibar.

The children we taught had nothing. For us to even reach our school, we had to trek through jungle until we reached a concrete box with no electricity, no windows, no chairs nor desks – and certainly no teaching provisions! The benefit of foresight had equipped us with teaching resources and AFL footballs, much to our students’ excitement.

After such an enriching experience, I always had a desire to return to Tanzania. I am grateful for the donations I received to assist me in raising funds for PCFA, a charity which I passionately support. I am also so grateful for the opportunity to climb Mt Kilimanjaro.

I know it might sound a little cliché but the best thing about memories is making them and I will never forget the memories shared during our trip to Tanzania, whilst collectively raising over $60,000 for such a worthy cause.

Mount Kilimanjaro promised to take our breath away both figuratively and literally. The views during our climb towards the summit were incredible. The challenge of climbing to approximately 19,340 feet above sea level and crossing five ecological zones was tough.

Convincing my mother and fiancé not to worry!

Tanzanian Rift Valley Tours were exceptional from the moment we arrived at Mt Kilimanjaro airport. This combined with having a medically trained Australian team leader with an interest in altitude sickness and rural and remote medicine, provided the perfect combination of local and specialist knowledge.

As a tourist and volunteer who has travelled to Tanzania previously, it is rare that the standards achieved in Africa replicate those delivered by western tour operators.

The diligence shown and relentless management of climbers during our preparation gave all team members the safest chance to reach the summit and should be acknowledged. This provided a level of comfort along with various risk mitigation strategies in the unlikely event of an accident or emergency.

Many of the conversation topics during the trip are unlikely to feature during my working week, but I will certainly smile each time I look at the Mt Kilimanjaro certificate now proudly positioned in my office. By engaging in ‘personal social responsibility’ and trying to make the world a better place is extremely fulfilling – if you believe, you will achieve! My only question is what adventure will be next…

Commit to a challenge today! The experience will be memorable and deeply rewarding. The photos of the sunrise we witnessed as we neared the summit cannot do it justice. Viewing it from above the clouds as we approached Uhuru Peak in the early hours was an experience I’ll never forget.

Become our Adventurer of the Month to win a $100 Paddy Pallin voucher

Take a picture whilst on your adventure or when you’re training and use the hashtag #IveBeenInspired and your adventure hashtag. The most exciting use of the hashtag, with an adventure, and fitness focus will be our Adventurer of the Month – it’s that easy!