Spencer West

Achieving the Impossible

In June 2012, Spencer West reached the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro – a 19,341ft. mountain.

He reached the top by crawling on his hands. West lost his legs when he was only 5 years old.

The trek to the top took seven days, hiking through Tanzania's jungles, snowfields and deserts.

Mr. West was forced to make 80 per cent of the journey on his hands, only hopping in a custom-made wheelchair when the terrain allowed.

Mr. West’s hands were left bloodied and bruised after the trek, but insists the pain and discomfort were ‘worth it’.

Mr. West was born with sacral agenesis, a genetic disorder that left his lower spine poorly developed and his legs permanently crossed.

He had his legs removed below the knees at the age of three and, two-years-later, had them amputated to below his pelvis.

Porters carry Spencer West's wheelchair up Kilimanjaro, so he can use it when the terrain allows him to give his battered

hands a break.

When he was a child doctors told Mr. West he would struggle to live like a normal person - something he has remained

determined to prove wrong.

Spencer West spent a year training for the Kilimanjaro trek at his home in Toronto, Canada.

He had to be sure he had enough strength in his arms to carry him up the 19,000 ft high mountain.

His incredible climb has raised more than £300,000 for Free The Children, a charity which brings water to thousands of

Kenyans experiencing drought.