Image: Alan Cao / Chilliwack teenager Alan Cao, a native of Singapore who moved to Chilliwack with his family roughly four years ago, plans to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest peak, this summer to raise awareness around mental health and well-being of local youth. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack teen to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro

Chilliwack teen poised to climb Africa’s highest peak this summer, all for a good cause

Jun 11, 2024 | 2:07 PM

CHILLIWACK — When G.W. Graham dismisses for the summer this month, Chilliwack teenager Alan Cao will have his sights set on an international destination.

While some of his fellow classmates will be working at various jobs or vacationing with family during the summer break, Cao plans to summit Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania.

By tackling this bucket list item at the ripe young age of 17, Cao wants to inspire his peers to conquer their personal obstacles and work towards something greater.

“Getting to the top of Kilimanjaro will be a mental game more than anything. By succeeding in summiting, I hope to prove to myself that I have the mental fortitude to push beyond such obstacles and make decisions that will benefit me in the long run. In my mind, I believe that I can do this, which is why I want to inspire my peers to do the same,” Cao said.

Mental health and psychological well-being remain top of mind for many teenagers these days. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, more than 4 in 10 (42 per cent) students felt persistently sad or hopeless, and nearly one-third (29 per cent) experienced poor mental health, in 2021. As a matter of fact, it’s the driving force propelling Cao to conquer a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, but it’s one that can be done.

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“That’s why I aim to raise awareness for the mental health of local youth with this forthcoming achievement, as I wholeheartedly believe every teen deserves the chance to lead a life they are proud and happy about,” Cao said. “I am dedicating my efforts to raising awareness for the mental health of local youth.”

Image: Alan Cao / Alan Cao is driven to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro this summer to raise awareness around youth mental health.

Cao derived inspiration for this massive undertaking after stumbling upon a story about Shehroze Kashif, the youngest person to ever summit K2, the second-highest mountain behind Mount Everest, at 22 years old.

“After hearing this and discovering the youngest person to summit Everest was only 13 years old, I was inspired to do something similar as well,” Cao said. “Though my goal is nowhere near as extreme as K2 or Everest (yet), it will be more than enough to prove to myself that I can achieve great things if I find the determination.”

Although his older brother Flint was not directly connected to his desire to summit Kili, his older brother certainly had a hand in it. Throughout his life, Cao says his brother challenged him for the better.

“He pushed me to challenge myself, often leading to embarrassing tears and tantrums when I was younger; but all his efforts to make me a better person sparked the development of the confidence and skills I possess today,” said Cao, who was born in Singapore and moved with his family to Vancouver at the age of 5, before moving to Chilliwack roughly four years ago. “Perhaps my journey this summer will be a continuation of the profound impact he had on my younger self.”

Traveling on his own has not hindered Cao in any way, shape or form. Cao traveled China’s Yunnan province alone for 10 days in the early months of 2023, and visited American cities between Boston and Washington, D.C., last year on his own.

Although he’s heard stories of spontaneous people who decided to tackle Kili without training immediately after their leisure safaris, Cao isn’t taking anything for granted as he prepares for the climb to the nearly 5,900-metre peak.

“I plan to maximize the chances of my success with a moderate training regimen. This relatively relaxed schedule which I will begin soon will consist of running, hiking, leg and back exercises, and numerous ways to simulate uphill climbs while carrying heavy loads,” Cao said.

While he will be accompanied by skilled guides during the climb itself, Cao is tackling this on a solo basis.

“I fly out from Vancouver in late August, and I in fact will be embarking on this journey alone. I will be in the hands of skilled guides during the climb of course, but from my previous experiences traveling solo, I’ve concluded that traveling by myself grants the most freedom and fulfillment,” Cao said.

Cao has launched a GoFundMe crowdfunding appeal, of which half of the donated proceeds will fund the Chilliwack Youth Health Centre, enabling them to continue providing support and care for Chilliwack youth.

“The rest of the proceeds will go towards supporting my adventure, allowing me to eat better and sleep somewhere a little safer. No more than $1000 will be needed to support my journey!” Cao wrote in his GoFundMe. “I am a proud student of G.W. Graham Secondary. I have been working closely with my principal to ensure the success of my trip. I’m incredibly grateful for the people around me, who knows if I’d be where I am today without their continuous support?”

Cao says he has partnered with Larsen SUP Adventures, who has generously provided a paddleboard and gear package for the first person who donates $1,000 through the GoFundMe appeal.