Climbing Kili, for young Aussies without education

Hi, my name is Nathaniel.

I was born with a condition called pectus excavatum (aka “sunken chest”). It compressed my trachea and left less room for my lungs. On top of that, I had asthma.

At 11 years old, I had my first attack during a school cross-country race. I never ran long distance again.

I started swimming to beat my asthma. But whilst training for state championships, I pushed myself too hard. I ended up in hospital twice in a few months.

In 2022, I attempted my first high-altitude mountain — Malaysia’s highest peak, 4000m. But the night before the summit, I had a severe asthma attack.

I was at 3000m. Alone. Suffocating. Terrified. And that night, I made myself a promise: “Never again.”

But this year, something unexpected happened.

I had the chance to travel to Africa — and with it, the quiet whisper of a challenge I thought I had buried: Climb Kilimanjaro.

I’m raising funds for young people facing their own mountains — struggling without access to education and opportunity.

100% of proceeds will help launch an entrepreneurship program in regional Australia, empowering youth to create jobs, opportunity, and change — right in their own communities.