Christian climber takes on Everest
QUEBEC CITY, QC-By profession, Mario Dutil is the CEO of a refrigeration company in Quebec City. By passion, Dutil is a mountain climber.
On May 1 of this year, Mario Dutil reached the summit of Mount Everest. He was raising money for the Teen Challenge detox centre near Quebec City, while realizing some of his own dreams.
Dutil says most climbers undertake the grueling climb because of the challenge, the sport, the thrill of personal performance. He says his reasons are different. "I do it for the beauty," he says. "I have a very special time with God at the top of a mountain."
The Everest mission, which took two and a half months, was Dutil's 22nd climb up a high mountain. But Everest is different. It is the highest. And that is what inspired Dutil to make the effort to leave a Bible at the summit.
"We are told to take the Word of God to the ends of the earth," he says. "I wanted to take it to the top of the world."
Dutil succeeded in carrying what he calls "the smallest Bible in the world," produced on microfilm and about the size of a slide to the "highest summit in the world." He dug a hole in the ice and left the Bible there.
When he heard of Dutil's ambition to climb Everest, Ronald Lussier, president of Teen Challenge in Quebec City, suggested that his venture could be used as a fund-raiser for Teen Challenge, as well as increasing visibility for the ministry.
Teen Challenge is an organization geared to helping addicts overcome their addictions, come to faith and reintegrate society as healthy, responsible individuals. The Quebec City centre houses an average of 15-20 young men.
Dutil readily agreed and a pledge system was put in place. In what Dutil dubs a "climb-o-thon," donors could go online and promise a certain amount per metre of the climb. Just one cent per metre would equal a gift of $80. Despite a few glitches in the promotional process, Dutil was able to raise $20,000 for Teen Challenge.
Before his ascent, Dutil visited the Teen Challenge installations near Quebec City and talked to the boys in the detoxication program about the challenge of mountain climbing. Volunteer Richard Gagné says. "He showed us his equipment and told us his tricks for making things lighter, like drilling holes in his toothbrush. He said that near the top, it can take two minutes to walk three steps."
Gagné says, the boys were happy to meet Dutil and interested in his presentation. They are, however, more centred on their own personal challenges during their 14-month stay at the centre.
"The Teen Challenge therapy is so intense. I talked to a guy yesterday who has been shooting drugs for 15 years. Going straight implies a major life change," says Gagné.
The theme of Dutil's collaboration with Teen Challenge was aptly named, "To each his challenge, to each his mountain."
Dutil was part of a team of three climbers from Quebec and a technical team, although none of the others are associated with the Teen Challenge ministry.
A television crew from the Discovery Channel followed Dutil's team and documented their efforts. A six-part series on the climb is scheduled to air in November and December.
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