Proving the benefits of climbing when living with and beyond cancer. You may remember we made a grant to the Centre de Rocheplane in France as part of our ‘Climbing Beyond Cancer’ initiative last year. Docteur Aline Mercan has been keeping us up to date with feedback from her patients – if you need a dose of positivity, read on! And these are just some of the latest comments!

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“After the news of my illness and the long course of treatment, I found it hard to trust my body again. It had ‘betrayed’ me; the surgeries and treatments had damaged it. I continued to exercise throughout, despite my fatigue. The Rocheplane course really helped me to ‘get back on track’, to see that my body had resources and was still alive, and that I needed to take even better care of it. Climbing made me experience the benefits of pushing myself. I’ve always been afraid of heights. Thanks to the support of the group and the instructors, I accepted that I couldn’t do it straight away.

It took me a while to get to the top, but I trusted myself and I got there. You also have to have confidence in the equipment and in your team-mate who is belaying. It’s a really powerful exercise in letting go and building confidence and self-esteem.“

“As far as the climbing is concerned, I’d say it’s a good way of challenging yourself, especially when you start to doubt your physical abilities after treatment or surgery. It can unlock certain emotions. At first it’s fear, then when you see that you can progress quickly, it becomes confidence and a little more self-assurance. It’s a good way of proving to yourself that you’re still capable of achieving amazing things.“

“The introduction to climbing has been very beneficial for me. Firstly, for the pain in my arm, following the climbing sessions, my arm doesn’t feel so tight and I can do broader movements without pain. Secondly, in climbing we work a lot on managing emotions and fear. And that’s good for me, because at the end of the session I feel calmer and more relaxed. You’ve managed to overcome your fear and control it, you’re satisfied and often even proud of yourself. When it comes to self-confidence and confidence in others, climbing has a lot to offer.”

Physical and emotional benefits

“I was very scared and felt like a failure on the first climb, but afterwards I felt like I was growing wings and I loved it. I’d always thought that because I’m overweight, climbing wasn’t a sport for me, but now I’ve discovered that I can do it and that I love it. I posted my achievement on social media in the evening and I’ve had some great feedback. I’m going to keep climbing with the 8848 project and no doubt afterwards.”

“The introductory climbing session we did as part of our exercise rehabilitation was incredible for me. I was nearing the end of my course and it gave me a chance to see how much progress I’d made. I started the session thinking that I wouldn’t be able to climb because I didn’t have confidence in my body and my abilities. What’s more, I’ve always been afraid of heights.

After a first ascent that was cut short because I got scared, little by little I managed to overcome my misgivings and climb better and better. This session enabled me to understand that I could trust my sensations, my body, and communicate better with it. I realised this even more when I climbed with my eyes closed. I could only trust my body and my sense of touch. It was a revelation. I decided to join a climbing club at the end of my Rocheplane course to continue exploring these sensations and the progress I’d made.”

“I was able to enjoy a climbing session during my first week at Rocheplane. I’d done a bit of climbing when I was younger and every summer I do a bit of via ferrata. I thought it would just be fun and easy, and a good opportunity to get to know the group better. I was surprised by the fairly intense physical aspect, I was out of breath after every climb. The last one, which was more difficult, brought me face to face with the limits of my body. Limits that I hadn’t anticipated, as my body ‘works’ very well on a daily basis. I had to come down even before the halfway point, my arms no longer supporting me.

It was emotionally difficult, but ultimately beneficial. For the first time in a long time I really listened to the message my body was sending me. That day I started to communicate with it again.“

“I never thought I’d be able to do it!”

“Wow, climbing, I never thought I’d be able to do it!
That feeling of lightness when I was climbing gave me wings and suddenly I felt capable of surpassing myself and overcoming my fears (I have a lot of those with the disease). It gave me confidence in myself and in the others in a very strong shared experience. With that support and encouragement, it freed my mind and eased my concerns. The more I climb, the more I have the feeling that the illness is behind me, and it’s a pleasure to feel every part of my body and to reclaim it (yes, in fact, I’m still the same person despite everything).

Climbing the holds on the wall and reaching the top is like the marathon I’m running at the moment… it gives me the strength and courage to go all the way. That feeling of reaching the top is my victory and a shared victory, and that’s wonderful!”

“Climbing is first and foremost a discovery, a new activity after a period of convalescence, where you have to overcome your fear of the unknown and your fears in general (as with the treatment for the disease).
It’s also a way of regaining your self-esteem, which was put to the test during the illness.
And finally, climbing is also about teamwork!
Being the belayer means taking on a huge responsibility – the climber places all their trust in the belayer. At the end of the day, it means regaining your place in society and once again being someone you can count on after an illness.”

22/11/24, 9am, Indoor session at Espace Vertical 4, Saint Martin d’Hères.

“It was an emotional morning that will stay with me for a long time. From the very first holds, we understood the parallels with cancer:

• Moving forward step by step; choosing the colour and shape of the hold that suits us, so that we can chart our own course, and choose who we can count on.
• Putting our trust in the person who helps us to overcome our weaknesses, providing us with their support so that they too feel solid.
• Moving forward in the climb until you become one with the wall, conquering it so that it’s no longer an obstacle to enjoyment.
• Finally, reaching the summit and feeling all powerful – and not ashamed of being the proud warriors that we are.

It’s an immense feeling to have a tangible manifestation of the psychological journey we take every day. It’s a recognition of the strength we bring to bear every moment so that we don’t abandon our families. Thank you for enabling us to take this next step.” 

“When I arrived, I didn’t know if I was capable. Seeing the others climb the wall was motivating and created a sense of emulation. I felt the joy of doing what I thought was impossible and reaching the top was a victory. The pain was gone, the weakness in my legs was barely noticeable, and the goal was to get to the top. Thank you for this moment when we can forget everything else.”

“Nobody died!”

“At first you think it’s impossible to haul your carcass up there, it’s so high. Then you put a leg up, a foot, a hand, you climb and climb. And you gain confidence and suddenly you’re at the top. Then you draw the parallel with this f*cking cancer, you say to yourself it’s the same. You have to climb slowly even if you think you’re not going to make it. Even if you’re not totally in control, you can still do a lot. Plus you’re not alone. You have to trust the other person and they have to trust you too, and they help you. It’s a really positive thing.“

“It was a hugely emotional experience for me, starting off in a panic and ending up enjoying myself. I’m all the better for it. And nobody died!”