15-year old Michael Fung likes to challenge himself. Last month he came to Canada for a leadership training program and recently successfully set two incredible records including a 156 km walk in 30 hours from Richmond Hill, to Niagara Falls, and also kayaking across Lake Ontario under 8 hours. With study and academics as his main focus in the past, he was able to set new records due to his mental endurance, training and development, and increased confidence. Hopefully next year he will be able to do more challenges.

The new semester in grade 10 at the Diocesan Boys’ School is about to begin. As a student of the school, Michael has outstanding academic standing, is passionate about music, and is a performance level violinist who did little exercise in the past. Last year was his first time in Canada for the leadership program at Monticle Leadership Association. With encouragement from the instructor, Michael began his routine of running 10 km every other morning, and joined swimming and other sports.

A year of training turned him into a new person. Michael arrived in Canada again in July for more training. With five students, a combination of Hong Kong and local Canadian students, Michael embarked on the walking challenge to Niagara Falls, completing 156 km in 30 hours, and setting a new record for Monticle as a team. Michael recalls “at the beginning of the walk, there was a huge thunderstorm. It was hard to move forward. Our feet got wet and it was easy to get blisters.” The most difficult part was at the end where he almost twisted his ankle due to eagerness, but used his mental endurance to suppress any painful feelings.

Breaking another record for Monticle, Michael and Chief Instructor Billy Lui used a 2-man Feathercraft kayak to cross Lake Ontario, a total of 50 km in 7 hours and 55 minutes, while the average time takes 13 hours. Michael recalls “we picked the center line, where there are no boats and no shorelines. We cannot give up. The only option is to move forward.” This challenge changed his outlook on life, and made him understand himself more. Hopefully he will be able to return next year for the next challenge.