“THE best love is the kind that wakens the soul and makes us reach for more.”
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Those words formed part of a tribute to Brendan Pattison by his wife Debby after the Border doctor died in August 2015.
Now a group of family members has been inspired to reach for more, much more, in memory of their beloved father.
Three of Dr Pattison’s children, Ainslie, Dale and Arthur, along with Arthur’s wife Rebekha, Kane Zidan and Liam Dalby, are planning to trek Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, in May.
They hope to raise $25,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation beforehand, with a dinner next month to be their major fundraising event.
Ainslie Pattison said her father, who died of multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, always had been active in his community.
“So we thought we should do something to give a little bit back and help people who are going through similar situations to what our family experienced,” she said.
Miss Pattison agreed the project had proved a help as they worked through the loss of Dr Pattison.
“Absolutely, it’s a physical challenge as well as an emotional challenge for all of us,” she said.
“I’m sure he’d be very proud,” Mr Dalby added.
Measuring 5895 metres above sea level, Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano in Tanzania. The trekkers expect to face extremes of both heat and cold during their nine-day expedition.
In preparation, they have been working on their fitness and completing as many uphill hikes as they can.
“The best training you can do is to walk up mountains, basically,” Dale Pattison said with a grin.
Already the group has raised more than $10,000, all of which will be donated as the six participants are paying their own travel costs.
The Brendan Pattison Memorial Dinner will be held on February 25 at Albury’s Commercial Club.
Miss Pattison said the night was not just for people who had known her father.
“We want it to be open to everyone,” she said.
“So many people’s lives have been affected by cancer, whether it be a blood-related cancer or not, so I just think it’s a good way for everyone to get together; a good way maybe for people to meet each other and talk about it, raise more awareness.”
For tickets, go to Up for the fight - Mt Kilimanjaro Challenge 2017 on Facebook.