| My search for outstanding people who do unusual and | | | | most dreaded moments. That day I decided to turn a |
| positive things is an ongoing thing. Danielle Weiss from | | | | regular mountain climb into a fundraiser for our kids. |
| G.A.P Adventures recently put me on to another | | | | "Last day after an epic skiing & snowboarding season |
| interesting individual: Richard Belliveau, an international | | | | in the Swiss Alps. I'm on my way by train to Torino |
| traveller, adventurer and tour leader with G.A.P in | | | | (Italy) to catch a flight to Stanstead, England to then |
| South America, who's been instrumental recently in a | | | | connect to a flight from Heathrow to Calgary... |
| unique fundraising project: Together with a group of | | | | Anything goes to get there cheaper! I guess I'm a true |
| friends he climbed Mount Orizaba, a volcano in Mexico, | | | | Canadian anywhere I go: skis, snowboard & the trusty |
| to raise funds for a project that benefits street kids in | | | | Stetson always follows..." |
| Peru. | | | | 9. Please tell us about your "Set for the Summit" |
| At his young age, Richard has travelled the world, has | | | | project. Whose idea was it and what was the |
| led adventure groups on different continents, has | | | | concept? |
| worked with children who just came out of transplant | | | | When I was backpacking through Spain last year, I |
| surgery, and now he is dedicating a great portion of his | | | | was heading to the airport in Girona to catch a flight to |
| time to fundraising for good causes in Latin America. | | | | Italy. I ran into some problems when the flight got |
| His key insight is "Never underestimate the power of a | | | | cancelled, and that's where I met a guy by the name |
| dream!" | | | | of Mike Gage. I believe everything happens for a |
| Let's Richard tell us how travel has opened his mind | | | | reason, and that day I ran into him by pure luck I would |
| and how his experiences led him to become a | | | | say. Since we were both in the same situation - |
| mountain climber (with many more mountains to climb), | | | | flightless & broke - we started making conversation & |
| all for a good cause. | | | | decided to go hitch-hiking together. One thing led to |
| "Rich "Jet" Belliveau: International Adventure Specialist | | | | another, and pretty soon we had become very good |
| & Mountain Guide. Proud to be Canadian" | | | | friends, and even luckier hitch-hikers! We had three |
| 1. Please tell us a bit more about yourself and your | | | | days of non-stop laughing, exploring & talking. It turns |
| background. | | | | out we're both dreamers, and our paths were simply |
| I was born in Surrey, British Columbia less then a | | | | meant to cross. Mike told me about a climb his group |
| quarter century ago - yet I remember recently I was | | | | of friends was planning in Mexico, and that's when I |
| told that I had "aged very gracefully" - whatever that | | | | decided I was definitely going to take him up on his |
| means. We then moved across the big landing strip | | | | offer to join. After we were done our adventure |
| we like to call Central Canada to the Laurentian | | | | through Northern Italy together, we kept in touch until I |
| Foothills north of Montreal, and I ended up in a parking | | | | invited him to Ecuador to join me on a climb of |
| lot in Calgary somehow many years later with a car | | | | Chimborazo as a test of our skills before attempting |
| full of sports gear, and a brand new oversized | | | | Orizaba in Mexico. |
| backyard... Any more details would be asking for | | | | One night I was walking back to my hotel in La Paz, |
| trouble. | | | | Bolivia. It was about 1 am, and I was huffing & puffing |
| Dawson College, Concordia, University of Toronto, | | | | up the hill when a great idea hit me. I saw the |
| Mt-Royal College, University of Calgary, University | | | | opportunity to turn this climb into something not only for |
| College of the Cariboo... Been there - done that. I could | | | | my own personal enjoyment, but also for the |
| say I have a V.I.P subscription to the educational | | | | enjoyment of our kids at IRW in Cusco. That same |
| system in Canada, but I guess it would be safer to say | | | | night I wrote a 15-page email to Danielle Weiss, our |
| I've attended - or almost - all of these fine | | | | Sustainable Tourism Coordinator at G.A.P Adventures |
| post-secondary institutions before finally deciding what | | | | & also the coordinator of our projects at Planeterra. I |
| my real calling was. I held my first job at the age of 12, | | | | wrote down everything that went through my head |
| and quite frankly I don't think I've been without work for | | | | late that night, and that's how we decided to shift our |
| more than two weeks ever since. From serving drinks | | | | focus to the kids instead of the peak itself. When I |
| in Crescent Street bars in my hometown of Montreal | | | | checked my email the next day, I got an answer from |
| to teaching kids on the slopes of the Swiss Alps, I've | | | | Mike who immediately fell in love with the idea. |
| tried my hand at it all. I'm always up for a challenge, | | | | Mike then pitched it to the rest of the group: it was |
| and I'll never say no to adventure. My entire life I've | | | | unanimous, that's how "Set for the Summit" was born. |
| always strived to be the best at what I do, and I've | | | | 10. You climbed the Pico de Orizaba, that must have |
| always pushed as hard as I could to make it to the | | | | been an amazing experience. Please give us more |
| top. That is something my parents taught me, and | | | | information about that. What were some of the scary |
| luckily it's something I'll never forget. | | | | moments and some of the rewards? |
| 2. You have been travelling, living and working abroad | | | | I wasn't sure I was physically ready for this as I was |
| for many years. Please tell us more about that. | | | | still recovering from a frost-bitten toe, but since it was |
| At the age of 17, I got wind of my first possible job all | | | | for the kids nothing really mattered. I had a goal, and I |
| the way across the pond in Switzerland. I took the | | | | was going to stop at nothing to get to it. |
| opportunity head on; I applied as a sports monitor in an | | | | My fight was no longer a solo battle. It became a |
| International Language School's summer program, and | | | | quest I needed to go on to prove to myself I still had |
| that's what got the ball rolling. After an intense season, I | | | | the passion burning inside of me. So I set off for |
| flew home on the last possible day of the summer | | | | Mexico to meet a group of people whom I had never |
| break, and I knew for sure the second I stepped off | | | | before met, and to start something I was not entirely |
| that plane that this landing was only the first of many | | | | sure I was capable of handling without the proper |
| to come. Working abroad is as contagious as a piece | | | | basic training - but I knew I had the support I needed |
| of good chocolate cake; once you start it can be | | | | from my friends & family, and that slowly filled my |
| difficult to deny yourself the pleasure again and again. | | | | heart with a feeling I hadn't felt in a long time. I found |
| For the longest time, my only concern while in College | | | | my true self last year in Switzerland, and as time |
| was holding a job (or up to three at a time!) to make | | | | passed, I was finding a person in me I hadn't ever |
| enough money to afford my next flight out. I worked | | | | known. |
| as a rock climbing instructor, skiing & snowboarding | | | | "From the left: Rich Belliveau, Ian Passini, Mary Lenig |
| teacher as well as a camp counselor. I have opened & | | | | (formerly of The Amazing Race with sister Peach) |
| managed restaurants, bars, outdoor equipment shops | | | | and Michael Gage (MGage Studios) on the summit of |
| & specialty stores, I've even dabbled in corporate | | | | Orizaba after a very emotional climb. Those are the |
| sales! I tried all the jobs that seemed like fun, and that's | | | | first smiles we shared all together since base camp a |
| where I realized I was not in the right place just yet. I | | | | mere eight freezing hours before..." |
| wanted to be a guide, I wanted to lead backcountry | | | | The day we set off to the glacier, nothing could have |
| expeditions & hikes, rafting trips, African safaris, | | | | come between us & a peak we all so desperately |
| anything as long as I was outside and free as the wind. | | | | wanted to bag. We were minded, and nothing could |
| "This pic just goes to show we're just your normal, | | | | stop us now. We had our last meal in the comfort of |
| average everyday people who love to have fun. Mike | | | | an old converted soap factory, and then we went to |
| is being his usual funny self with our good friend Mary | | | | sleep after having a nerve-wrecking conversation over |
| as the driver simply disregards the disfunctional | | | | rope team leaders, possible fatal mistakes & the |
| behavior we keep throwing his way in his 2-passenger | | | | probability of us making it - or not. It seemed trivial at |
| cab - which we gladly filled to maximum capacity." | | | | the time, but none of those issues ever really scared |
| 3. Where do you work now and what do you do? | | | | me. I felt completely confident I could do it & I knew I |
| I am currently writing you from the comfort of my suite | | | | had the right people with me. We determined that |
| lofted amidst the treetops in an eco-lodge in Aguas | | | | Mike, Mary & I would be rope team leaders. The rest |
| Calientes, Peru. I'm sitting on my balcony listening to the | | | | of the group said their strongest people were needed |
| sound of the river rushing below as I watch the sunset | | | | out there as lifelines, and so we accepted. I then |
| over Machu Picchu. Sound cool?! I'm a Tour Leader for | | | | realized I was taking on the lives of up to ten other |
| G.A.P Adventures presently based in South America, | | | | people, and that began to shake me. |
| but as of May I'll be back in Canada running our West | | | | The next morning we got on the truck, and set off |
| Coast trips for the summer - then it's off to Africa I | | | | through the green melee of trees & rocks to |
| hope! | | | | basecamp. I sat on the roof with Mike & Ian, and I |
| When I'm not lying on the beaches of northern Peru or | | | | could see the emotion in their eyes. Mary took the |
| tunneling down the rapids of the Apurimac River, I can | | | | front seat of the 1952 Dodge we were riding on, and |
| sometimes - not very often! - be seen working on my | | | | she too felt the intensity of what was to come. We all |
| laptop or something that may look like a normal job. I | | | | knew that nothing would stop us from making it to that |
| have what most would call a dream job, and it took | | | | summit. As we drove up we could see the feeble air |
| me a long time to gather the experience required for it, | | | | violently pushing snow and rock off the icy cliffs. We |
| but now I'm in charge of taking groups of travelers | | | | sat unimpressed with nature's force, blinded by the light |
| from Lima, Quito, La Paz & other great places to the | | | | of determination. I was completely ready I believe to |
| ruins at Machu Picchu, the beaches of Mancora, the | | | | risk it all for those kids. |
| jungles of the Tambopata Reserve or the Galapagos | | | | Ian had lost his mother to a battle with Cancer just one |
| Islands. My time off is usually spent on the shores of | | | | short year previous, and she was his inspiration for |
| the Caribbean in Colombia, or riding horses in the | | | | pushing the limits of his abilities. She had inspired him to |
| valleys of the pre-Colombian Peoples, or even climbing | | | | go the extra mile for the sake of another human being. |
| the 6000 meter plus peaks of the Andes Mountains. | | | | Mike had been on a stretch of three unconquered |
| 4. You made a comment that sometimes travel can | | | | peaks due to injury & illness, and he was determined |
| be a form of running away and that in recent times | | | | to push it not only for himself, but for the kids at his |
| you have come to terms with some of the issues that | | | | favorite project: Mary is real a "go-getter" whose |
| made you want to run. Please tell us more about that. | | | | lifelong quest to make the world a better place pushes |
| I'm sitting in a café in Cusco eating my breakfast | | | | her to go the extra mile every single day - she would |
| working on some articles, and I can hear the people at | | | | do anything to help another human being. All four of us |
| the table next to me talking about where they're from | | | | were at the peak of our determination, but little did we |
| & what they're doing now. The question of education | | | | know about the foolishness of what it was we were |
| has come up many times, and I now remember why it | | | | about to attempt. |
| is I ran away the first time, and why it is I keep running | | | | We set up camp and stayed for one day |
| no matter where I go. Everywhere I go during my | | | | contemplating our next move. We made a split |
| travels, I always seem to find people who have | | | | decision to break camp and move up to high camp to |
| something in common with me. These guys are clearly | | | | better our chances of making it to the summit. Mike, Ian |
| a bunch of friends who just met here in tourist-town, | | | | & I climbed from base camp to high camp three times |
| and they quickly realize they are all - or almost all - on | | | | with what we judged was enough water for |
| the same page. | | | | everyone... We were putting ourselves to the test I |
| None of them have any idea what it is they want to | | | | guess, and we had passed that part with flying colors. |
| do, and they all decided to leave their homes to come | | | | After a day at high camp, we took the group up to the |
| explore the world in search of their real calling. I believe | | | | tongue of the glacier to practice self-rescue and |
| they might understand the concept of running away | | | | anchors. We realized that from that point on we would |
| better then I may think. So I ask them what they think, | | | | be responsible for each others lives. We carried on |
| and I get the same answer I was expecting. "I'm not | | | | knowing that we were low on water supplies and that |
| ready to go to school, I have no clue what I want to | | | | we would need all the strength we could summon |
| do, I'm tired of all the pressure everyone is putting on | | | | tolead our three teams to the summit without freezing |
| me to get a formal education... What is so wrong with | | | | all extremities or sliding off a cliff. |
| wanting to travel the world & see amazing places?" I | | | | "New Years Day, January 1st 2004: The Legends: |
| feel the same way; I have run away every time the | | | | Zaz, Rich, Claire, Alex, Beav, Kate, Nick, Izzy & Alex - I'll |
| pressure has become too much for me to handle. | | | | never forget you guys!" |
| Every time society's unwritten rules get a hold of me, I | | | | That night we all sat down together & went through |
| dodge all the punches & just run away to place where | | | | the procedures & the food/water rationing, and to our |
| I can be myself, where I can be free to do what I | | | | surprise, Mike, Mary, Ian & I were set aside by the rest |
| please, and where I am the teacher: I am the one | | | | of the group. They had decided to sacrifice their |
| opening the book on a new page in life, and I get to | | | | rations of food & water to allow us to bag this peak - |
| write in it what I please. I make the rules, I make the | | | | they were willing to stay behind & let us conquer the |
| lesson plan, and I decide if I have passed or failed - by | | | | monster that was living inside each one of us, and to |
| my standards, not society's. | | | | do so they knew what had to be done. Their act of |
| "Me on the summit of Orizaba with my kids flags flying | | | | selflessness was most honorable, and it went to show |
| high" | | | | that they also felt what it is we felt, and they knew |
| 5. Please tell us about that special New Year's Eve on | | | | what it took to make sure our demons would not |
| December 31, 2004. What did you experience and | | | | prevail. |
| how did it change your direction? | | | | At that moment I was reminded of my usual answer |
| On New Years Eve, December 31st 2004, I spent the | | | | to difficult situations: run away. Not this time I said. Not |
| evening completely detached up in the high mountains | | | | again, and never again. I told my team again exactly |
| in a little village in Switzerland surrounded by a group of | | | | why I was doing this, and I told them why it was so |
| kids whom I had just met a few days before. I was | | | | important to me. I reached deep inside myself and |
| just starting out in a new place, right after my most | | | | pulled out my worst fears & biggest obstacles, and I |
| recent move. I came here to teach skiing & | | | | made a vow to never let those evils take over again. |
| snowboarding for the winter, and I was going to be | | | | From that point on there was no return, and there was |
| working with many different groups over the season, | | | | no stopping us. I promised to cut the rope and split into |
| and in many different places all throughout the country. | | | | two teams if I saw it fit to make it to the summit, and |
| This was to be my first group of the season, and little | | | | Mike quickly made the same promise. Pretty soon we |
| did I know our lessons would involve much more then | | | | had unanimously spoken on behalf of our battered |
| just skiing. They showed me who I was again, and | | | | souls that needed no convincing. |
| from that point on it all changed. | | | | We went to bed that night knowing it could turn very |
| That day I stood them up on top of that mountain on | | | | bad in a split second if the weather didn't hold or if we |
| the first day of the New Year, right at sunset, and | | | | made a mistake. The altitude is nothing compared to |
| made them all stop what it is they were doing. No | | | | Everest, but it's enough to make a person lose his |
| more horsing around for a minute, no skiing; not a | | | | sense of judgement & level headedness. |
| sound. I said to them "Take a look over the horizon, | | | | The stars were out, and the mood was faint. The night |
| take a look at the sun setting over those peaks over | | | | would guide us through the better of two evils - follow |
| there, and take a minute to take in all it is you see | | | | your heart and push all limits, or give in once again and |
| above that deep valley. Do remember that you are | | | | run away. Neither option was the right one given our |
| here because someone sacrificed a lot to make it to | | | | condition, but it didn't matter anymore. The clock struck |
| this point, and that there is nothing out there that could | | | | midnight & we just about leapt out of our tents, geared |
| ever stop the world from taking it all away. Be grateful | | | | up and got the adrenaline pumping. We decided the |
| for all that you have, and be grateful for all those who | | | | weather was good enough for us to climb. We were |
| love you and care for you. Think of all the people who | | | | lucky; the stars were on our side and the night |
| would lay their life on the line to make sure you're safe | | | | seemed very mild. After hours spent climbing though |
| & healthy, and do know that I would do the same in a | | | | scree, we made it to the lip of the glacier where we |
| heartbeat if it came to it. Remember the people you | | | | were already frozen by bits. We roped up, said a final |
| love & thank them for being there, let them know you | | | | prayer, and started off straight up the face of the |
| care about them too, and remember that there's | | | | glacier. Although we all knew the success rate was |
| nothing in this world more powerful then the love & | | | | only about twenty percent, nobody dared say anything. |
| affection of the people around you. The only way to | | | | We pushed forward through the cold frigid wind under |
| measure a man's riches is not by the material | | | | the very starlight that had inspired this push many |
| possessions he or she may have, but by the | | | | nights before. |
| relationships one maintains. Remember what's | | | | We fought hard, we stopped, we had even thought of |
| important, and focus on it." | | | | separating for a while, but we decided to push the |
| "Some of my passengers & I on Amantani island in | | | | envelope as far as we could so we gave it our best |
| Lake Titicaca, Peru. That's my job!" | | | | shot. Just when we stopped one last time, a shooting |
| That day I saw a group of a dozen 15-yr olds look up | | | | star light up the sky above. I remember the magic it |
| high, and as the tears slowly ran down their faces, I | | | | brought every time I wished upon a star when I was a |
| thanked them for what they had taught me in just one | | | | kid. I think that star gave me the strength I needed to |
| short week, I thanked them for the reality that literally | | | | push on even though I was starting to feel exhausted. |
| hit me upside the head just two days previous when I | | | | At that point I believe my soul was touched by that |
| came close to loosing the use of both my legs. We | | | | star, and I knew I had the wishes & dreams of too |
| hugged & a few of them said some very powerful | | | | many kids on my back to turn around. |
| words, and we were on our way for our final run of | | | | Bleeding from fingers & toes, scorched by the wind & |
| the day. | | | | sun, we kept ascending until we had nothing left to |
| That night around the dinner table, hardly a word was | | | | give. We made it to a summit we believed to be the |
| said. I believe every single one of those kids sat there | | | | one and realized we still had what seemed like miles to |
| thinking of the people who put them there, and how it | | | | go. The look in our eyes was so intense and so |
| is they were going to show them how important they | | | | disbelieving that there was nothing out there that could |
| are to them That night I feel I hit a nerve not only in my | | | | have stopped us - not even the worst of avalanches |
| back, but also in their hearts. I called them the Legends, | | | | or the widest of crevasses. As we came up to the |
| and ever since then I've thought about that sunset | | | | ridge on top of the volcano, the wind was blowing |
| every single day. That sunset is the one that brought | | | | strong enough it could have easily carried Mary away |
| me back to who I was before, and that was the | | | | if she hadn't been weighed down by all that gear! |
| sunset that was going to free me of my evils. | | | | "The Legends & their leader after a hard day's ski |
| I made a resolution that year to only move forward in | | | | session - life is good..." |
| life - never look back with regret for the things I didn't | | | | A mere meter form the actual summit, the energy |
| do, simply remorse maybe for those I did. I chose to | | | | was getting so intense that we all unclipped from our |
| live every day to its fullest, and to make sure the | | | | lifeline, and I slowly made my way to the highest point |
| people I love & care about are kept close. I decided to | | | | where I fell to the ground, planted my ice axe and |
| do whatever it was I could to improve my future; to | | | | began to sob like I had never done so before. I cried |
| change the things I had control over. I've made many | | | | tears of joy, and I felt something I had never felt |
| changes in my life that I had never thought of before. I | | | | before. I laid there hunched over the rocks that |
| spent a ton of time working on my own faults, and I | | | | marked the summit, and I wept. I looked up to the sky, |
| also spent a ton of time working with kids whose | | | | and there I said it: "no more quitting, no more failure, |
| problems were the kind I might not have been able to | | | | from now on I turn not to run away, but towards |
| solve, but at least I could put it all into perspective for | | | | whatever it is I face. I will never look back & run, I got |
| them and help out as much as I could. Lending your | | | | you" I said, "I did it, I beat you!" I yelled. Ian came right up |
| ear to someone can sometimes make the entire | | | | beside be, and he took off his gloves to reveal a photo |
| difference between a good choice or a bad one. I | | | | of his mother he had been latching onto this entire time. |
| wish I taken the time to talk to someone before I ran | | | | He went to the base of the cross, dug a hole & |
| away so many times in my life. | | | | carefully placed his mom's photo in the ground. Just as |
| "That pic was one of our first on an epic snow day | | | | he started covering it, a tear drop fell onto her photo. It |
| with our first TACKERS group in Anzere. The kids | | | | was the most beautiful sight I've ever experienced. |
| who were so happy to see the snow were Australian | | | | We all felt her presence there that morning as the sun |
| transpant recipients who had never seen snow | | | | rose over the valley below. We hugged and smiled as |
| before." | | | | we knew we had conquered what it was that could |
| 6. You also worked for an organization called | | | | have kept us from ever blossoming fully, but it was not |
| TACKERS. Please tell us more about that organization | | | | over yet. I reached into my bag and pulled out my kids' |
| and what you did for them. | | | | prayer flags. We slowly unrolled them, and as I held |
| That's when I started working with TACKERS. | | | | one end with all the strength I could gather, I threw the |
| Transplant Adventure Camps for Kids: it stands for | | | | other end into the wind and ran across that summit. |
| something I have great difficulty putting into words. I | | | | Those prayer flags flew higher then ever thought |
| spent weeks skiing, snowboarding, dog sledding, | | | | possible. As I ran I felt the weight of the futures of all |
| snowshoeing, scuba diving & golfing with a bunch of | | | | our children growing and growing until I couldn't hold on |
| kids who looked death straight in the eye & decided | | | | any longer. Mary looked up and yelled "let go Rich, just |
| that they were not going to give up so easily. They | | | | let go, we've done it, we've won..." |
| had fought, and they were our survivors. Every single | | | | The looks on our faces turned from exhaustion to |
| one of those kids has had a huge bump in the road to | | | | glory, and we let the wind carry our kids' dreams |
| overcome, and they all faced their worst fears & gave | | | | across the valleys & mountains of the world. I felt as |
| it all they had. They were the real heroes in this world, | | | | invincible as the wind that day. I only wish my kids |
| and that's where my learning curb took a hit for the | | | | could have been there to experience the emotion with |
| height. I had spent months in Europe working with so | | | | me. We had won; Mary was right. We had taken a |
| many different kids from all over the world who had | | | | step forward that could never be taken back. I vowed |
| way more to teach me then I could ever teach them | | | | to make sure nothing could ever stop them from |
| about Skiing & Snowboarding - they gave me my life | | | | accomplishing their dreams. |
| back & I owe them so much. | | | | From that point on I decided never to look back on the |
| TACKERS is a non-profit organization based in | | | | things that made me weak, and to never let those |
| Anzere, Switzerland. The organization is run by Liz | | | | demons and evils get the best of me. For as long as I |
| Schick, and the aim is" for the children to develop their | | | | live I promise I'll always look out for those around me, |
| independence by trying new sports such as skiing, | | | | and I will always push on through no matter what. That |
| snowboarding, dog sleighing, scuba-diving and | | | | summit represented the beginning of a new life not |
| para-gliding and to develop a support network to help | | | | only for me but for anyone who is willing to give that |
| their families and each other". If you would like more | | | | extra push. It represents only the beginning. The future |
| info please visit and if you have any intention of helping | | | | is in the hands of those who are willing to do good |
| us setup a North American chapter, please email me | | | | with it, and I knew the future got much brighter that |
| or Liz! | | | | day - for me and for my kids. |
| 7. You are doing things to prevent Inca artifacts from | | | | 11 Please tell us what was the outcome of the "Set for |
| leaving the country. Please tell us about that. | | | | the Summit" fundraising event. How much money was |
| There exists a very lucrative black market in Peru for | | | | raised and what is it going to be used for? |
| such items as Inca Mummies & pre-colonial ceramics, | | | | This event marked the beginning of a new program |
| gold & silver. These artifacts are being smuggled out | | | | called the "Planeterra Partner Program" which is a |
| of the country illegally into the private museums & | | | | special branch of our foundation that allows normal |
| businesses of some corrupt international art dealers & | | | | people like you & I to create or map out our own |
| collectors alike. I knew about this phenomenon before I | | | | event to help raise funds for the charity. We |
| came to Peru many years ago, but this last arrival | | | | encourage people at home who want to support our |
| brought out many intriguing leads, and I decided to start | | | | community projects to do whatever it is they wish to |
| doing something to actually prevent all these artifacts | | | | help out; if that means hosting a local bungee jumping |
| from leaving the country. Looking at the current state | | | | bachelor auction, a benefit concert or even a bake |
| of the situation, one might notice that the very people | | | | sale, we'll be pleased to know that others are doing |
| who annihilated the Inca & pre-Inca Civilizations many | | | | their part to make the world a better place. |
| years ago are ironically the same "collectors" who are | | | | So far we've raised 3000$ U.S. with this effort which |
| gathering up the leftovers of their forefathers' | | | | will in fact be a total donation of 6000$ U.S after G.A.P |
| shameful work. | | | | Adventures matches the amount - as they do with |
| In the eyes of the government I am helping retrieve | | | | ANY donation of up to 50 000$... If that's not enough to |
| priceless and irreplaceable artifacts for the right | | | | knock your pants off, you'll be pleased to hear that |
| reasons as their are donated to local museums to | | | | there are absolutely no costs involved in running |
| make sure they remain part of the Inca & pre-Inca | | | | Planeterra as G.A.P Adventures already covers all the |
| heritage. The agreement with the museums also | | | | costs of our operations & staffing needs through the |
| includes a two-year loan of a Mummy to international | | | | company itself - therefore Planeterra has no overhead |
| museums for restoration & local exhibition before they | | | | costs! For those of you who, like myself, only took |
| are returned to Peru in air-tight exhibition cases. | | | | Math until college, that means that 200% of your |
| Although I face a minimum 30-year sentence if caught, | | | | dollars go to the projects directly! It's simple: 1$ = 2$, no |
| receive regular threats from some of the people who | | | | catch!!! In the case of this event, the funds will be going |
| usually "buy" the items I save, and practically have to | | | | towards the purchase of a parcel of land in Cusco to |
| beg for donations to be able to keep this going until I | | | | be able to build a house home for our kids to call their |
| can formalize & legalize the operations, I don't think | | | | own. |
| anything could stop me. Luckily I have good contacts | | | | "Me & Mike on the summit with our kids' prayer flags |
| with the local armed forces & am very good at | | | | proudly flying free in the wind." |
| clandestine ops, I do believe I will be able to slow down | | | | 12. What have been your learning experiences from |
| the loss of such cultural treasures, but without a formal | | | | the mountain climb and the events that led up to it? |
| license and some financial help, I don't know how long I'll | | | | I learned never to underestimate the power of a |
| be able to stay afloat... Again, anyone with any leads | | | | dream, never to forget all the people that make me |
| or any interest please don't hesitate to contact me! | | | | happy, and never to run away from the things I may |
| 8. Then you moved to South America and started | | | | fear. I learned that no matter how hard something may |
| working with a project for street kids. Please tell us | | | | be the right answer isn't to run. What doesn't kill you |
| more about that. | | | | only makes you stronger. I realize that now, and I've |
| After an emotional rollercoaster of a winter season, I | | | | realized that the mistakes I have made in my life are |
| followed the cold winds to South America where I | | | | nothing but normal. I know now that if I don't want to |
| reconnected with my sister - whose energy & outlook | | | | go back to University yet, I don't have to. If I don't want |
| on life I desperately needed by then. I came here & | | | | to get a regular nine to five job, it's up to me. If I want |
| signed my life away not knowing what I was in for, | | | | to dedicate my life to helping others & making the |
| and that's where the real adventure started. I soon | | | | world a better place, then it's entirely up to me. I |
| enough became very fond of our project in Cusco | | | | consider myself very lucky to have the love and |
| with the street kids ( and I started spending a lot of | | | | support of my family and friends in everything I do. |
| time there with my passengers. | | | | 13. What has happened since you climbed that |
| Some of our kids come from broken homes & very | | | | mountain? Please tell us what's on schedule next for |
| poor families, they spend most of their days in the | | | | Rich Belliveau. |
| Plazas & tourist areas selling cigarettes, chocolates, | | | | Since that mountain I've noticed many changes in my |
| postcards & other little things... Our organization gets | | | | ways. I have started living every day as if it were my |
| them off the streets & enrolls them into school if they | | | | last, and I've started appreciating everyone around me |
| make a few simple changes in life, and we also help | | | | much more. I've also decided to keep on going with this |
| them with school supplies, homework, assist in finding | | | | wave I'm riding. My plans are very vague right now. I |
| uniforms for school, and teach them a few skills to be | | | | plan on climbing many more mountains for charity, raft |
| able to generate some income for them & their | | | | a number of rivers, and do lots more fundraising. I'll be |
| families such as leatherwork, arts & crafts and shoe | | | | leading in Northern Canada and Alaska for the |
| repair. | | | | summer season, and I plan on doing some research |
| The kids are great & they just love having visitors, so | | | | for some more fundraising opportunities. My best kept |
| now there are many other people (not just G.A.P | | | | secret right now also happens to be what drives me, |
| passengers) who are dropping by to help out. We | | | | what inspires me, and of course it is also what pushes |
| have a psychologist who is there to talk to the kids | | | | me every day to make a difference in this world. |
| also, and we provide them with two basic meals per | | | | Hopefully my work will be recognized soon enough |
| day. The feeling I have every time I walk into the | | | | and I'll have the support I need for the next big |
| apartment where we are temporarily housing them is | | | | endeavor. All I can say for now is "Watch out world, |
| just overwhealming. Our program is growing at great | | | | here I come!" |
| speed, and we need to find a new location for the | | | | Richard, thank you for telling us about your personal |
| project; we need to buy a house to be able to take | | | | journey and all the insights you have gained along the |
| care of our kids in emergency situations, and to allow | | | | way. I wish you all the best for your efforts and all the |
| our program to grow. That's when we decided to do | | | | future fundraising projects you are going to be involved |
| something big... We decided to hit the summit, and for | | | | in. Keep up the great work! |
| that we were prepared to confront our worst fears & | | | | |