From climbing up and down Camana Bay’s Observation Tower steps in full hiking gear, to running – not swimming – laps in his pool every morning, Martyn Bould isn’t cutting any corners in his training regime. Bould, a long-time Cayman resident and philanthropist, has even given up his nightly glass of wine.
The reason? At an age when most people are well into their retirement years, Bould, who turns 80 later this year, is in training to climb Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji to raise funds and awareness for the Cayman Islands Red Cross.
The 3,776-metre ascent will be the third time that Bould has donned his climbing boots to support the Red Cross’s humanitarian work, following successful ascents of Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro in 2019, which raised $10,000, and Argentina’s Aconcagua in 2024, raising $16,000.
“In the aftermath of a hurricane, the Red Cross steps in, and having seen the work they do what better organisation to support?” he said.
“The work they do in disaster preparedness, community outreach, and humanitarian aid is vital, and I’m honored to contribute in any way I can.”
Summit sunrise
For his third ‘Climb for Red’ fundraising mission, Bould will be accompanied by experienced guide Chikako Hayashi. Staying overnight near the summit, he will make a pre-dawn summit push to witness the sunrise from the top, an experience regarded as both spiritual and awe-inspiring in Japanese tradition.
Bould’s love of climbing began some 40 years ago when he climbed Blue Mountain Peak, Jamaica’s tallest point, and since then, he and his wife Vivian have travelled the world, notching up peaks and trails as far afield as Azerbaijan, Spain, Colorado and Bhutan.
It was while returning from an African safari in Tanzania that Bould first caught sight of Kilimanjaro and thought “that would be good to climb”. He trained for five months, losing 25 pounds in the process, and prepared for the altitude using a special breathing method to enhance performance for those living at sea level.
Rather than just climb it for himself, he decided to climb it to raise funds for the Red Cross, having seen firsthand the work the organisation does following hurricanes both at home and in the British Virgin Islands in immediate disaster relief and rebuilding communities.
His training regime paid off. At the age of 73 years old, in a climbing group of mostly 25- to 40-year-olds, he successfully completed the eight-day ascent and was the only person who didn’t need to take altitude sickness medication.
Bould said that there is “no secret” to his impressive fitness, putting it down to working out for an hour to an hour and a half a day.
“I just keep at it,” he said. “It’s my time, and it sets me up for the rest of the day.”
Originally from the UK near Birmingham, Bould moved to the Cayman Islands 56 years ago in 1969, having qualified as a chartered surveyor and applying on a whim to work in the Caribbean. He stills works on various public and privately owned building projects across the island through his company, Bould Consulting, with current projects including the Lighthouse School and improvements to the prison service.
Over the years, Bould has been a dynamic force in Cayman life, being involved in a wide range of innovations, including the construction of the Harquail Theatre and the National Gallery, bringing squash to the Cayman Islands and helping raise funds to preserve Miss Lassie’s House, one of Cayman’s oldest structures.
Among the many positions Bould has held are chairman of the Cayman National Cultural Foundation, founding board member of the National Gallery, chairman of the National Trust and president of the Cayman Society of Architects, Surveyors, and Engineers.
Bould, who was awarded the MBE in 2012 for contributions to cultural preservation and development in the Cayman Islands, is also a director of The Bould Foundation, led by his wife Vivian, which funds and supports young Caymanians in the creative community.
Cayman Islands Red Cross Director Jondo Obi commended Bould for his continued commitment.
“We’re incredibly thankful for Martyn, not only for raising funds, but for raising awareness about the importance of the work we do,” Obi said.
“The donations from this climb will directly support our community programs and ensure we remain ready to assist in times of crisis.”
The public is encouraged to support Bould’s Climb for Red fundraising campaign by donating to the Cayman Islands Red Cross. Contributions will go toward ongoing programmes such as disaster relief, first aid training, child protection, support for seniors, and emergency shelter operations.
Donations can be made here to support Bould’s charity climb.
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Martyn is a great example to all, not only in his athleticism, but in his success in fund raising. Mt Fuji is not as high as his first two incredible conquests, but it will still be a very demanding climb now that he is almost 80 years old. One gets the impression he is not finished yet and there will be more to come. Congratulations Martyn!.