Climbing to new heights

Kathryn Stephens has never met a battle she’s unwilling to fight. And soon the 48 year-old St. Lazare mother of three will test her mettle and endurance while ascending 19,340 ft. (5,895 m.) to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak and the tallest free-standing volcano in the world.

A breast cancer survivor - now cancer free for the past five years – Stephens will join close to 30 other women from across the county as the only Quebecer to participate in the climb. Included in the group is Canadian television personality Valerie Pringle, who is a spokesperson for the Canadian Federation for AIDS Research.

Some participants, like Stephens, are breast cancer survivors.

She’s been training for the 11 day climb, which will begin in June, by walking 15 kilometers each Saturday from her St. Lazare home to downtown Hudson, and back. Here training will intensify, she says, once nicer weather arrives.

Stephens has also participated three times in past years in the 60 kilometre Weekend to End Breast Cancer walk.

She says the purpose of the Africa trip is threefold.

Stephens will participate while Ottawa doctor Shaunna Burke conducts research into possible links between breast cancer survivors and mountaineers.

The focus will be on noting mental strategies used by both groups when they are faced with adversity.

Stephens admits that when she lived through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation five years ago, her only plan was to take each day as it came.

Upon reflection, however, she says she has always had a positive outlook.

“Learning some strategies on how to deal with (breast cancer) and having a positive attitude may benefit other people,” she said.

While in Africa Stephens will also join the organization Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief, CPAR, to help build a shelter for HIV positive women in that country.

And finally, she’ll continue efforts to aid a Hudson resident and former refugee, Pascal Gisenya, in bringing his family from Rwanda to Canada. The family has been separated for three years.

In total, Stephens seeks to raise $16,000 to cover both her travel costs and those related to bringing the Gisneya family to Canada.

She also encourages people to donate to the CPAR effort, and breast cancer research.

When asked why she rolled three monumental projects into one three week trip, Stephens laughed, replying that she loves challenges.

Her website, which starts with the words: ‘The world belongs to those who dare to dream,’ offers further insight into a local woman who will stop at nothing to follow her dreams and help others along the way.

Stephens departs for Nairobi, Africa on June 25. Those wanting to help can log onto: www.kathrynstephens.org