PORT Macquarie cancer specialist Dr Baerin Houghton will this year rise to new heights in the fight against the insidious disease he watches patients battle every day.
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Dr Houghton will scale the lofty peaks of Grand Teton in Wyoming on September 10 in his Climb Above Cancer campaign in support of the Hastings Cancer Trust.
His fundraising ambitions are almost as high as the mountain he’s climbing. Dr Houghton hopes to raise $40,000 from the climb and other activities. He’s well on his way, with about $8000 in the kitty so far.
Grand Teton is in the north west of the equality state. Its peak is 4200m high. The climb will be a massive undertaking.
Dr Houghton will abseil down some truly terrifying sections of rock after the technical climb to the top. One section involves ascending 50 metres to a ledge which at the top of a 2000m drop.
Dr Houghton says his courage is nothing compared to the bravery he sees in his patients every day. They inspired him to make the climb.
One used the mountain analogy when describing the effects of chemotherapy, and that started it all.
“His comment inspired me to climb this mountain to acknowledge the lives of people with cancer and raise money to improve local cancer services via the Hastings Cancer Trust,” Dr Houghton says.
He has been running, cycling, kayaking and rowing to prepare himself for the trek.
Dr Houghton is already seeing the benefits of the rigorous training. He has lost 16 kilograms, as he’s been getting up at 4.30am most days to fit everything in.
“Some people are understandably concerned about me losing too much weight,” he says.
He sought the advice of Port Macquarie nutritionist Peter Clark and the weight fell off.
“We established my ideal healthy weight to aim for whilst still ensuring a balanced diet,” Dr Houghton says. “With this approach, a dramatic increase in exercise and giving up alcohol since New Year’s Day, it fell off surprisingly quickly.”
Dr Houghton is looking forward to some recreational time in the States. He plans to camp in the adjacent Yellowstone National Park. He will also visit Utah.
“I’ll head south to Utah to explore the beautiful rock formations of Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park,” Dr Houghton says.
Before he gets to the US, he’ll take part in another fundraising event which promises to be far easier than Teton.
Dr Houghton will join with others for a walk up North Brother Mountain at Laurieton on Sunday.
“Sunday will be a lot of fun and an opportunity for the community to get involved in a symbolic journey to climb above cancer,” Dr Houghton says. “We have all been touched by cancer in some way.
“The climb is a way to reflect on these journeys and raise money to ensure our local cancer services are of the highest standard.”
He wants to thank a range of Port Macquarie businesses and organisations for their support of the cause, from those helping him get fit to some helping to make Sunday’s walk successful.
