Paraplegic Chris Waddel to summit Mount Kilimanjaro

Follow Chris Waddell as he attempts to be the first paraplegic to summit Mount Kilimanjaro unassisted. His blog (sign up for RSS feeds) will be updated often as he makes his way to the top of the 19,340 foot high mountain with arm power alone. Updates from the mountain will be transmitted via a Hughes BGAN Satellite Terminal sponsored by International Satellite Services, Inc.

At 19,340 feet, Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. Waddell will attempt the first paraplegic summit of Kilimanjaro in the fall of 2009 with a team of experienced colleagues and a camera crew dedicated to documenting the historic climb.

Although Kilimanjaro is considered a "walkable" mountain, typical features such as logs and large rocks prove threatening obstacles for Waddell's journey the summit.

Waddell will summit Kilimanjaro in the appropriately named Bomba, a one-of-a-kind, 4-wheel handcycle propelled entirely be arm power. The unique handcycle steers 2 ways, via traditional hand bars and through a special pedal that sits under the chest. The One-Off provides impressive traction and control with wheels capable of maneuvering over foot-tall obstacles.

About Chris:

Chris was a promising young skier at Middlebury College in 1988 when a skiing accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. Determined to get back on the slopes, he began skiing on a monoski roughly one year later. A little more than two years later, Waddell was named to the US Disabled Ski Team.

Waddell went on to become the most decorated male skier in Paralympic history, winning twelve medals over four games, and spending a total of 11 years on the US Disabled Ski Team.

In addition to his work with the Paralympics and the International Paralympic Committee, Waddell has found success as a motivational speaker. Waddell speaks to the resilience of the human condition, with topics ranging from leadership to adversity to quality of life.

Waddell has been featured in numerous publications, including Outside Magazine, Skiing, Ski, National Geographic Explorer, and People Magazine who named him one of “The 50 Most Beautiful People in the World.” He has also appeared on Dateline and Oprah.

International Satellite Services, Inc, is excited to be one of the many co-sponsors for this amazing expedition. Please visit our website at www.issi-us.net for more information about who we are and what we do.

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