中文版

I’ve had the incredible opportunity to participate in the “Let the Glacier Cool” expedition to Sichuan’s Dagu Glacier. Honestly, this experience has made my life so much richer, I’ve learned more about our world, gained a deeper appreciation for our planet, and most importantly, I’ve felt the genuine love and support of our Rotary family.

I’ve never had the best health, so when I first saw the promotional materials for this glacier trip, I was pretty torn. On one hand, I desperately wanted to go because it was such a rare chance to see a glacier. But, on the other hand, I was genuinely worried whether my health could support me to complete this trip. When I found out we’d have professional guides, experienced tour leaders, and medical staff with us the whole trip, I decided to join this challenging trip. I really wanted to finish this journey and share what I learned with our Rotary members, Rotaractors, Interactors, and students from local schools and NGOs.

I set off with so much excitement, but honestly, things got pretty rough pretty quickly. On the second day (October 27, 2025), by afternoon, my body just gave out and I was sick to my stomach the entire day. By the third day (October 28, 2025), I thought I’d be fine for the morning activities, but as soon as the coach started climbing the winding mountain roads, things got worse. When we got out at 3,500 meters, I started feeling really sick again. But I kept thinking, “I’ve got to push through this—our whole team needs to reach the 4,860-meter peak together.” Thankfully, our guide Kenji taught me how to use the oxygen bottle properly. After resting for a bit, my blood oxygen levels jumped from 74 to 92, and I got the green light to continue up the mountain.

But then came the cable car ride up. Before we were even halfway there, I was sick again and I didn’t stop being sick the whole way up to the summit. When I finally got out at 4,860 meters, I was still nauseous and had a pounding headache. The medical team helped me take a quick look at the glacier, but I couldn’t even manage a full minute before I got sick again. Eventually, one of the glacier helpers stayed with me and we took the cable car back down so I could rest in the medical centre. What really got to me, though, was how caring everyone was when they came back down. Their concern and support really showed me what our Rotary community is all about—it’s a real family.

Another moment that’s stuck with me happened when we visited the ruins of Xuankou Middle School in Wenchuan, Sichuan. Standing there, seeing what was once a five-story building completely destroyed by the 2008 earthquake, with just rubble where the fifth floor used to be… it really hits you. You realize that so many teachers and students probably didn’t have time to escape and got trapped under all that debris. It brought back a lot of memories—seventeen years ago, I volunteered for earthquake relief work right after the Wenchuan disaster. I remember driving down roads lined with blue emergency tents on both sides, just seeing pile after pile of broken buildings and families who’d lost everything.

But seeing Wenchuan now? It’s transformed. The emergency tents have been replaced with solid buildings. The destroyed buildings have become well-equipped schools. And those orphaned children have grown up to become pillars of society. I also talked with PDG Peter about his experience, and he told me how he personally led a team of Rotarians to Wenchuan right after the earthquake. They didn’t just donate money, they also invested their time and energy. They really embodied Rotary’s spirit of service above self.

Standing between the melting glacier and the rebuilt after earthquake, I realized something important: people who are gone can’t come back, and once a glacier melts, you can’t restore it. We can’t control earthquakes, but we absolutely can do something about glacier melting.

That’s why I’m passionate about this “Let the Glacier Cool” program. I want people everywhere to understand that we need to stop talking and start acting. We need to come together, spread environmental awareness, and protect our planet so we can slow down glacier melt and keep our Earth alive.

After this journey, I’m committed to continuing my learning and taking part in all the Rotary training programs. I want to keep sharing the message about glacier conservation with our members, Rotaractors, Interactors, and students in schools everywhere. That’s what Rotary is really about.

Service above Self, Serve with Love ❤️

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‘讓冰川退燒’之旅程分享   香港城北扶輪社 社長麥綺薇

本人能夠參與今次四川達古冰川‘讓冰川退燒’之旅，確實讓我人生更充實，更認識世界，更珍惜這個地球，而最感恩的就是感受到扶輪社社友的愛。

一向身體不佳的我，在見到‘’讓冰燒退燒‘’的宣傳單張時，心裡很忐忑，一方面很想參加，這確實是個難得的機會可接觸到冰川，另一方面又怕身體支持不住。之後，得悉隨團有很專業的領隊，導遊和醫護人員隨團，我便決心參加此次冰川之旅。希望能夠完成旅程後，可爲扶輪的社友，扶青社友, 扶少團員, 中學生，小學生及不同的非牟利機構作分享及見證。

我帶着興奮的心情出發，還記得第二天（27.10.2025)下午，身體已感到不適，把整天吃過的所有東西都嘔吐了出來。第三天（28.10.2025) 早上活動時身體還可以，但當車子不停地盤旋着攀上山，身體又感覺不適了，下車到了3500米高山時，開始嘔吐，心裡想着要撑下去，讓整團扶輪社友齊齊整整攀上至4860米高峰，完成今次旅程使命。幸好，隨團領隊Kenji教我如何用氧氣瓶呼吸，休息了一會兒，血氧量由開初的74提升至92，我獲批准上山了。怎料，坐在纜車上山時，不到半程又開始嘔吐，一直嘔吐至到達4860米山頂，下車後，我繼續嘔吐，還有點頭痛。在我的要求下，醫護人員扶着我到外面看了一眼冰川，不到一分鐘，我又再次嘔吐了。最終，由一位冰川管理員倍伴我乘纜車，返回到山下的醫護室休息。社友下山後，他們的慰問及關心，令我感到扶輪社這個大家庭的愛。

這次旅程另一個令我珍惜的活動就是能有機會到四川汶川映秀鎮漩口中學遺址悼念。看到漩口中學，由原是五層樓高的建築物，在地震的破壞下，第五層的課室已倒塌至地面上，由此可想，當時第一層至第四層樓課室中的大部分老師及學生可能走避不及，被埋在瓦礫中。回想17年前，自己以自願者身份參加汶川大地震義工工作時，車子在公路上開駛，眼前衹看到一排一排藍色的帳幕在公路兩傍，前面迎來的亦衹是一堆一堆的頽坦敗瓦，還有一群一群失去至親的孤兒。如今，汶川己走出了傷痛，公路上的帳幕已變成堅固的房屋，倒塌的房子已變成設備完善的校捨，失去親人的孤兒已變成今天社會的棟樑。而且，從跟前地區總監黃紹開的交談中，更得悉他當年亦帶領扶輪社社友，親自前往汶川支援，他和他的團隊不祇付出金錢，時間和精力，他們更體現出扶輪的大愛，超我服務的精神。

從達古冰川融化到汶川地震悼念，警醒了世人，人走了，是無法復生，冰川退了，是無法修復。面對地震，人類是無能為力的，但面對冰川融化，人類是力所能及的。

冀望能藉着本次‘讓冰川退燒’‘活動，讓世人明白到我們必須坐言起行，立即行動，團結各方，傳揚環保，保護地球，讓冰川儘快退燒，延續地球的生命。

我經歷本次旅程後，會繼續努力學習，出席保育地球委員會各培訓班，持續地跟社友，扶青社友, 扶少團員及到中小學宣講保護冰川意識，不斷地發揮扶輪精神。

“Service above Self, Serve with Love ❤️”