Trek for Alzheimer’s

Hillier Creek Estates’s Kemp Stewart is climbing Africa’s highest peak over the next two weeks.

Hillier winegrowers set to scale Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for research

Kemp Stewart and his friend Chris Braney are getting on a plane at Pearson Airport today. The plane will connect in Amsterdam and from there take them to Arusha, Tanzania, where they will start their trek up Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak.

Stewart owns Hillier Creek Estates and is the president of the Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism and Commerce.

A career in the military means the energetic Stewart is no stranger to physical fitness. He began road cycling two summers ago to keep in shape, and was soon joined by Chris Braney, who intended to get himself in shape with Stewart’s guidance.

Braney, who owns Cold Creek Vineyards in Hillier, lives in the Durham region, where he is the CEO of Durham’s Alzheimer Society. Eventually Braney decided he wanted to do more than just cycle. Under Stewart’s guidance, Braney began training to do the Kilimanjaro climb to raise funds for the Alzheimer Society.

Together, the two worked on strengthening their leg muscles and working their cardiovascular systems to improve lung capacity— vital preparation to reach the peak of Kilimanjaro, where at 19,340 feet above sea level, the air holds half of the oxygen we’re used to breathing.

Stewart, who turned 65 in June, wanted to do something significant for his birthday. It was his wife, Amber, who suggested that significant something be to join Braney in his effort. He had, after all, been doing all the training.

Raising money for Alzheimer’s made sense. After all, Stewart had watched his mother slowly fall apart and eventually pass away because of early-onset Alzheimer’s, and he knows that many of those suffering from the disease and their loved ones need the support the Alzheimer Society gives.

So Stewart pledged to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for the Alzheimer Society of Prince Edward County.

The pair have been training for six months for the voyage. But their bodies are not the only things Stewart and Braney need to prepare.

The trek (it’s not called a climb because it does not involve special mountain climbing equipment like ropes and harnesses) is 80 kilometres long and 4,000 metres up. It will take seven days to reach the summit and another two to hike back down on a much steeper path.

Three days of the ascent will only be used to acclimatize the walkers to the lower air pressure and oxygen levels. And while there will be two porters per person to carry equipment, weight is still a consideration.

“We’re both anxious to get going. I can’t pass an outdoors store or a sports equipment store without going in and buying something, which is a problem because of weight,” said Stewart, who was packing strategically. “I’m not going to change socks and underwear every day as an example. We can wash them out, and it’s all quick drying [material].”

“Same thing with pants, I probably only need one pair of pants for the actual climb, and probably two or three shirts.”

Stewart and Braney are making the trek this January because it is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month.

Jon Leavens, president of the County’s Alzheimer Society, is grateful for the extra attention as his organization gears up for January fundraising events.

“There are other societies across Canada where people have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro specifically to raise money for Alzheimer’s,” said Leavens. “Both patients and caregivers have their own mountains to climb, so Kilimanjaro is symbolic.”

Leavens mentioned that those who don’t have the time, money or audacity to climb a mountain for Alzheimer’s can participate instead in the annual Walk for Memories, at PECI on January 28 and at the Wellington Arena track on January 29.

Donations on Stewart’s behalf can be made at the Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, 116 Main Street, or the Alzheimer Society, 90 King Street in Picton.