Aiming to be the first person ever with Brachial Plexus Palsy to climb Mt. Everest and all of the Seven Summits, Paul Fejtek along with his wife Denise are getting closer to realizing their dreams while seeing that others dreams are fulfilled as well. What started as a small group of supportive friends and family has turned into much broader participation by many in an initiative known as the Everybody to Everest Challenge: A charity trek to Everest Base Camp that will coincide with Paul & Denise’s attempt to reach the 29,029 foot summit of the earth’s highest peak starting next April. Many of the members of this group live right here in the South Bay including Karen Robinson, Colin Campbell, , Greg Hancock, Shawn Sedlacek, Lou Alvarado, and Branden Rubasky. All members of the team are training for their high-altitude adventure to Nepal while raising funds for the Challenged Athletes Foundation: An organization providing grants for prosthetics and specialized equipment which enables those with physical disabilities the opportunity to pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics. Together they have raised nearly $30,000 so far towards their ultimate goal of $290,290 (which is $10 for every foot in elevation to the summit of Mt. Everest).
"I remember as a child trying to figure out how to tie my shoes or button my shirt with one hand or play sports with all of the other kids, it was a real challenge", Paul recalls. "And now I'm about the climb the highest mountain in the world with my wife by my side and more than 30 friends pushing themselves up to Base Camp at 17,500 feet (a significant accomplishment in itself) while everybody is doing something incredibly worthwhile for the Challenged Athletes Foundation. The whole thing is just so exhilarating, surreal, and something for which I am quite proud” says Paul.
Paul wholeheartedly believes that courage, creativity, and perseverance are the magical ingredients that can help each and every one of us overcome any adversity standing in the way of our dreams, whatever they may be.
The Challenged Athletes Foundation was founded in 1997 and has raised more than $21 million and has provided in excess of 4,000 grants to deserving athletes including among others, U.S. Paralympians and American soldiers wounded in battle. To learn more about the Everybody to Everest Challenge or to make a donation on behalf of one of the South Bay team members, please visit: www.everybodytoeverest.com
