The story of how it all began...

In life, there are moments that test our strength and resilience. For me, that moment came when my son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 9 (2019). He was wrongly diagnosed and ended up in the ICU, fighting for his life. Those days and nights were filled with tears and fear, as I devoted all my focus and attention to his well-being, neglecting my own health.

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After a year of this intense struggle, my body reached its limit. I felt like I was on the verge of collapse and knew I needed to make a change. I realized that I needed to prioritize my health and started looking for ways to improve my lifestyle. That's when I discovered hiking. Despite my lack of fitness and experience, my determination pushed me to keep moving forward. Despite my efforts, I struggled to find a suitable hiking group. The few groups I found were either too physically demanding or only hiked infrequently. Undeterred, I persisted in my search and eventually took the initiative to start my own hiking group.

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Hiking became more than just a form of exercise; it became a passion. I gained confidence, overcame fear, and met incredible people along the way. The mountains called to me, and with each hike, I felt more alive than ever before.

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Despite facing challenges and doubts from others after a difficult hike, I preserved. Hiking has become and integral part of my life, shaping who I am today. In December 2022, I took a significant step forward and applied to become a qualified adventure site guide, achieving my qualification in 2023.

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Through this journey, I've learned that perseverance and determination are key. There were moments when I wanted to quit, but I reminded myself that quitting is not an option when you're pursuing your passion.

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A word of thanks

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I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has been a part of my journey. To my family, thank you for your unwavering support and understanding during the most challenging times. To my son, you are my inspiration, and your strength continues to amaze me every day.

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I also want to thank my hiking group for their camaraderie and encouragement. Your belief in me gave me the confidence to push beyond my limits and achieve my goals. Special thanks to the person that wants to stay anonymous, Theunis Schutte and Ina Malan for their guidance and support. Nadia Bothma from Nadiart Creative, your work on this website is truly exceptional. Thank you for creating such a beautiful platform that has helped me share my passion for hiking with the world. Your dedication and talent have not gone unnoticed, and I am grateful for all that you have done.

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To all the hikers who have joined me on this journey, thank you for trusting me to lead you and for sharing in the beauty of nature with me. Each step we took together was a reminder of the power of perseverance and the beauty of the human spirit.

 

To Professor Graeme Addison, thank you for your guidance and support during my training. Your expertise and insights have been invaluable, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from you.

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Karrin Addison, I want to express my gratitude for being such an incredible and supportive hiking companion. Your guidance and encouragement during my training meant a great deal to me.

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To Hugo Barendse of East Care, I want to thank you for your exceptional role in my First Aid Course training. Your skills as a trainer are truly outstanding.

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In both hiking and life my goal is not to reach the summit as quickly as possibly, but to savour the journey. I encourage everyone to pursue their dreams and never lose faith or hope. With determination, resilience, hard work, and faith, I believe anything is possible. 

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Thank you for being a part of my story.