The First to Master her Mountains: Sue Dela Rue
Ten years ago, Sue became the first person to ever receive a Mastering Mountains grant. When she first heard about the grant, she paused - the idea of applying was an avenue to something more, but it also seemed daunting. “What if I get it and fail?” she wondered. This initial hesitation was overcome by a deeper resolve that surfaced within her: I have to try.
Sue was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2006, just six months after the birth of her daughter. Her journey with MS, however, had started much earlier; for over ten years she had lived with unexplained vertigo and occasional numbness in her (didn’t specify right/left) leg. The tipping point came when she walked into work one day and suddenly lost sight in her left eye. A neurologist concluded that she had MS, finally explaining the reason for the symptoms she had been experiencing for so long.
““Even if it took me two days, I was going to get over that mountain.””
The diagnosis hit hard. Sue’s father also had MS, and she had watched him spend much of his life confined to a wheelchair. “All I could see was my life going downhill,” she explains. The early years following the diagnosis were filled with relapses and difficult trials with medication. Her balance was compromised, which meant she was frequently falling over.
It was during this time that Sue came across the Mastering Mountains Programme. She was working at Maungatautari, a beautiful mountain eco-sanctuary in the Waikato, which she had always dreamed of walking across. “In my head, I thought - ‘I’ll never be able to. I’ve got no balance. I’ll fall.’” But the possibility of a grant offered the hope of achieving this long-held dream.
She gathered her courage, applied, and became the first Mastering Mountains grant recipient.
Sue began a year-long journey of preparation, involving gym sessions to build strength and stamina. “I’m not a gym person,” she laughs, “but I knew that’s what I had to do to reach my goal.”
Grateful for the immense support she received from friends, family, her neurologist, and physical trainer along the way, Sue believed this gave her the confidence she needed to push ahead: “When I got the grant, I was scared I wouldn’t be able to achieve what they were helping me to do. But I was also determined. Even if it took me two days, I was going to get over that mountain.”
The Journey
When the day of the mission finally arrived, Sue was joined by a large support group consisting of friends, others with MS, her personal trainer, and even her neurologist; “That was the icing on the cake,” she says, “It meant people really believed in me.”
Reaching the summit was an emotional, but joyful time, “We sat down, had lunch, took photos. Everyone was cheering. I thought – I’ve done it. I can do this.”
The descent was even tougher, testing her already-tenuous balance. But she made it, one careful step at a time.
The hike ignited a new feeling in Sue. “People kept telling me I was inspiring. I’d never thought of myself that way. It gave me that spark. I could prove to other people with MS that they can do things too.”
Still Climbing, 10 Years Later
Even ten years later, the Mastering Mountains Programme has had a lasting impact. In the years following, Sue has walked Maungatautari four times, including taking the more difficult route. She has also pushed herself to take on other challenges, completing a diploma in accountancy.
“Before the grant, I didn’t think I could do anything, physically or mentally. I would never even have attempted any of that, before the Mastering Mountains grant.”
Sue’s journey since the grant hasn’t been without its challenges. In 2023, she experienced a major setback when she had a serious fall and was unable to get up until someone found her. Reflecting on that experience, she says, “I lost my courage. I lost everything.”
Not long after this, she began experiencing fatigue, breathlessness, and trouble swallowing. Investigations revealed thyroid growths, pressing on her windpipe. Thankfully, the growths weren’t cancerous, and Sue has since undergone successful surgery. “Since having them removed, I’ve started to feel better again.”
In the past few months, Sue has been slowly rebuilding, walking again and regaining strength. She dreams about climbing the mountain once more. “Just to prove to myself that I can still do it.”
Sue is still working towards her goals, carrying a sense of who she is and what she is capable of: “I just want to be back where I was when I did that mission. Out walking, feeling strong, and taking my dog for long walks.” She knows she can get to this stage – she has done it before.
Reflecting on the long-term impact of the grant, she says, “Without it, I never would’ve gone to the gym. I wouldn’t have built the strength or had the belief to try. It helped me to see that MS isn’t the end of my life.”
Sue believes life may have looked very different for her without the courage to try. Completing her mission gave her a new sense of agency and control, despite knowing challenges would arise throughout her life. Ten years on, she continues to master the mountains of MS: “I may have MS, but MS doesn’t have me.”
Mastering Mountains has supported people with neurological disorders to experience hope, connection and positive, life-long change through self-directed outdoor adventure since 2015.
For many living with these neurological disorders, a life of adventure in the outdoors can feel far from reach. That’s why Mastering Mountains assists everyday people to overcome these challenges by helping them achieve their adventure dreams, experience hope and connect with community, thereby inspiring hope in others.
To celebrate our tenth birthday, we’re chatting to our past programme participants, to hear how they are doing and to learn how achieving their dream adventure has impacted them in the long term.
If you, like us, think that this is essential work, please consider making a donation so that we can continue to help others into the future.
