Bemidji greenskeeper Matson Gravelle scales Mount Kilimanjaro, raises awareness for cancer care
Feb. 8—BEMIDJI — Matson Gravelle spends most of his time at ground level in northern Minnesota.
The 32-year-old course superintendent at Bemidji Town and Country Club is responsible for keeping the golf course in pristine condition.
But last month, Gravelle tested his limits by climbing 19,341 feet to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania while also bringing attention to an effort to treat cancer in the East African country.
"No hill in Bemidji is too steep now," laughed Gravelle, whose job also is known as greenskeeper. "I'm an avid outdoorsman, but I've never hiked to this extreme."
Gravelle was inspired to make the trip by his uncle, Dr. Michael Nelson, a radiologist at the University of Minnesota. Nelson frequently visits Tanzania and is heavily involved with the Foundation for Cancer Care in Tanzania, a Minnesota-based nonprofit. The foundation is helping to build a radiation treatment facility at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre near the base of the majestic mountain.
"One of our objectives during the trip was to visit the hospital and see the progress of ongoing projects such as the building of a new state-of-the-art radiation center," Gravelle said. "Currently the hospital is able to diagnose cancers, but cannot treat cancers. A patient would have to travel hundreds of miles away to receive such treatment."
He added, "The trip itself revolved around that. Climbing Kilimanjaro was just a bonus."
And what a grueling bonus it was.
Gravelle and his second cousin, Dr. Nelson's grandson Amir, were paired with four others through a climbing outfit with a high success rate of clients summiting the mountain. They were led by three main guides and 15 porters who carried all of the camping gear up the mountain.
"The porters were truly amazing, hiking and scaling walls with 50 pounds over their heads," Gravelle said. "They are the true heroes on the mountain."
It took the group six days to reach the summit, although one of the six climbers was unable to continue on the final day. They had to hike on rocky trails, often unable to take in the breathtaking views because their heads were down.
"I knew it was going to be a hike, but it's just a grind," Gravelle said. "You're sleeping in tents on a mountain, usually a couple of rocks under you. I mean you sleep well because you're tired, but you're still sleeping in tents. To wake up every day and just know you've got a day's hike ahead of you is a grind. But as the trip goes on you just kind of get into a rhythm. "
He added that those making the trek along with him felt like family by the end of the trip.
"You're hiking all day, you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner together, and you kind of develop a bond," he said, "with everyone having the same common goal."
On Sunday, Jan. 21, the group made it to the summit, and Gravelle proudly displayed a Bemidji Town and Country Club flag as he posed in front of the iconic sign.
"I was so happy," Gravelle said. "You get goosebumps. I'm not one to tear up, but it's almost like a relief. Like, 'Man, I made it.' I have a pretty stubborn mentality. Once I get involved with something I want to do a good job and I want to finish it."
Gravelle also was able to go on a safari as part of the trip.
"Being able to see so many different animals and learn about them was amazing," he said. "The national parks there are just unbelievable. Thousands of acres of pristine African wilderness. Lions, giraffes, elephants; you name it, we saw it."
And he treated himself to a round of golf at Kilimanjaro Golf Course and Wildlife Estate, although he spent much of the time visiting with his counterpart.
"I really enjoyed meeting the superintendent there," he said. "Although I wanted to play a round of golf, I actually was more interested in what they do. It's hard not to (pay attention to the turf). What a beautiful golf course and property."
Like many families, Gravelle's has had to deal with cancer. His mother survived it several years ago, and his father's relatives have been stricken.
"You talk to anyone nowadays and someone is affected by cancer one way or another," Gravelle said. "In our country, we almost take it for granted how good of a health care system we have. To see another country just trying their best just to do the basics of diagnosing cancer is remarkable."
Anyone wishing to donate to the Foundation for Cancer Care in Tanzania may do so online at
