Two daredevil dads admitted being pushed to their physical and mental limits after taking on a monstrous trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
David Ryczanowski and Pierre Olivier scaled Africa’s tallest mountain in support of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) – raising nearly £3,000.
Kilimanjaro is one of the highest free-standing mountains on the planet, standing 5,895 metres above sea level, and among the world’s ‘Seven Summits’.
David and Pierre decided to join forces for the mission after becoming friends through their children – David’s son, Mark, 26, and Pierre’s daughter, Jayde, 24 – who are getting married at Christ Church Chorleywood in September.
“It was the toughest thing I’ve done and even harder than I expected,” said David, from Lowestoft.
“It was very rigorous and regimented, and the terrain was incredibly challenging.
“That, coupled with the extreme altitude, made it physically and mentally exhausting.
“When we got near the summit, we saw several people being carried back down the mountain. Altitude sickness is clearly no respecter of age or fitness.
“I’d be lying if I said it was fun or enjoyable, but I felt the most amazing sense of achievement afterwards. I’ve always loved a challenge and having a target and something to strive for inspires me to keep fit and active.
“We were thrilled with the amount we raised and both felt pleased and proud to be in a position to help others.
“Spiritually, it was very uplifting and there were some lovely moments that gave me a real lift. We met some incredible people and the support team were fantastic.”
David and Pierre, who lives in Chinnor, Oxfordshire, took on the Lemosho route, starting in the west and crossing the Shira Plateau.
They camped overnight and faced extreme cold, especially near the top when the temperature plunged.
“It was freezing and getting up to use the portable toilet was an experience I won’t forget in a hurry,” said David, 63.
“On the first night, there was a monkey the size of a chimpanzee sitting next to it. I asked if it was queuing for the loo and it scuttled off into the undergrowth!”
David and Pierre’s children started dating three years ago, got engaged last year and are tying the knot in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire, on 6th September.
Remarkably, Pierre, a successful businessman, running his own company in the energy and environment industry, was once diagnosed with stage four lung cancer but has been in remission since August 2022.
It was his idea to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, as it was on his ‘bucket list’, and he turned 60 on Boxing Day.
“This was the ultimate test for my endurance and lungs,” he said.
“The first six days were tough but do-able, but the seventh day, when we climbed to the summit, was incredibly challenging.
“It was so steep and fatigue had set in by then. Going up was hard, but coming back down was even harder. It was brutal and something I’d probably underestimated, because you engage a completely different set of muscles. It was painful.
“I can’t say it’s enjoyable at the time, although I loved being at one with nature and alone with my thoughts.
“However, a day or two later, when I reflected on what we’d achieved, it was a very special feeling.
“I was able to tick it off my bucket list, and the cherry on the cake was raising funds for EACH. We both saw it as a great opportunity to give something back by raising funds for a very worthy cause.”
While united by their children, David and Pierre also have their faith in common – as well as a shared passion for rugby.
David is an authorised worship assistant in the Church of England and preaches at Christchurch, in Lowestoft.
He is also a Norfolk Diocesan Synod member and meets with the Bishop of Norwich.
