A Canadian man 31, who lost his legs as a child has pulled himself up to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro -Africa’s highest mountain, disproving doctors who said he would never be a functioning member of society.”
Spencer West lost his legs after a genetic disorder — sacral agenesis — paralyzed the lower half of his body.
However, he didn’t let that stop him from climbing to the top of Kilimanjaro.
West is from Toronto Canada.He arrived at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, some 6,000 meters (19,700 feet) above sea level, on Tuesday, calling it an incredible personal feat.
“Reaching the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro was the most mentally and physically challenging thing I have ever done, but in doing so, it reinforced the powerful message of believing in yourself, and believing in others,” West said.
“Physically, it was challenging because I climbed the majority of the mountain on my hands, which put a lot of stress on my shoulders and arms,” he said, estimating he hoisted himself up 80% of the way.
West was accompanied on the trek by his two best friends, David Johnson and Alex Meers.
His goal was to raise money for Free the Children, an organization that supplies drinking water to hundreds of people in Kenya, which in 2011 experienced its worst drought in 60 years.
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