By Anica Hattingh
To many, the thought of undertaking the strenuous climb up Africa’s tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, sounds daunting. With a 5 895 meter elevation above sea level, this mountain not only challenges climbers with its steep terrain, but also with harsh weather conditions and thinning oxygen levels. While many climbers are drawn to northeastern Tanzania each year by the promise of standing on the iconic summit, one stands out.
Mark-Philip Maree, Prim of Pieke Commuter Student Community (CSC), had planned to take on the challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro from 22 to 28 March – a daring feat for any climber – and on 27 March, at 06:50, Maree reached the summit. In a recent interview with Die Matie, Maree explained that this is more than a challenge of strength and determination – it’s also a “deeply personal and reflective journey”.
At the end of last year, Maree’s father sadly passed away after battling with Lymphoma cancer for nearly six years. Maree shared, “It was a decision I knew I was going to take,” when asked why the climb was important in honouring his father. “He climbed Kilimanjaro in 2000, so when I was growing up […], he would show me a lot of his photos from back then. We used to spend a lot of time [together] in the mountains,” Maree added, further highlighting the importance of his decision. This would be more than just a climb; it would be a way for him to honour his father and follow in his footsteps.
Maree shared that he remembers the way his father spoke of the people who had accompanied him, especially the guides. “When you do something difficult with people, even if you don’t know them well, it really just brings you close,” Maree said. However, Maree shared that it is not only the people doing the climb with him that matter, but also his family, friends and fellow CSC members. The support at home, even while he was out of reach for the majority of his climb, was fuelling him to complete his mission.
However, Maree’s climb is not only about honouring his father. On 23 February, Pieke CSC officially launched a fundraising initiative for the Move4Food campaign. The concept is simple – R1 for every foot climbed. With a target of R19 341, Pieke CSC and Maree remain committed to reaching their goal while turning each step of the climb into meaningful support for those in need.
Focused and ready to “put one foot in front of the other”, Maree endeavours to honour his father’s memory while raising vital funds for the Move4Food campaign, proving that determination and purpose can carry anyone to the tallest peak.
