JOHN Cairns (50), a Canadian man who lost his right arm and right leg in
a workplace accident in 1992, accompanied by Lucas Wise-man had 7-day
Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Expedition through Rongai route to raise
awareness of the needs and abilities of people with physical
disabilities and funds for his Wheelchair of Hope Foundation.
A man with only one left leg and one right hand from America is not a
sailor. But still he has a right to shout: “Ahoy there!” because he
managed to reach a top Mt. Kilimanjaro representing a cause for people
with physical disabilities worldwide.
As Cairns recalls it was around 6.35 a.m. on August 7, 2016 during
their summiting to the ‘Roof of Africa’ after a breath taking 2 and half
hour slow walk from Hans Meyer cave that he managed to reach Gilman’s
point, 5,681 meters, above sea level.
“For some seconds I totally
forgot that I came along with my friend Lucas Wiseman, then some 15
minutes or so later turning I saw him coming towards me from Uhuru peak
(5,895m ASL), just few meters from where I was in a second group under
guidance from professional mountain guide from the ZARA Tanzania
Adventures and it downed on me that he has made it. We both made
it!”
He recollected that was the culmination of “our seven day Mt.
Kilimanjaro climb” through the toughest Rongai route that to him still
seems like a dream. “Reaching Gilman’s peak was a dream come true
but
the actual climb is a long episode that ones need to grow old first to
forget,” Mr. Cairns noted in an exclusive interviews with this paper
with tears of joy!
“I do like the challenge that’s why I come to scale
Mt. Kilimanjaro though I lost my right leg and hand and I’m very much
appreciate myself that I made it to the Gilman’s Peak with the ‘great
assistance’ from Edwin Kilawe, a Tour Guide with ZARA Tanzania
Adventures..” he explained.
According to Mr. Cairns, he dreamed to
scale Mt. Kilimanjaro for a long time to prove to the World that
‘Anything is Possible if you like’ and disabled can do if
assisted.
“When back to Canada I will tout for all people to come to
Tanzania and enjoy agony, joy and pride of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, and
I thank God that I made it to high peak, much salutes goes to ZARA
mountain guides, Edwin Kilawe and Joseph Meela and their team for their
good assistance who was very patient and kind to me. They assisted me
very much to fulfill my dream, and next year I will come to scale gain
the highest Peak of Africa, Mt. Kilimanjaro to Uhuru peak…” Mr. Cairns
further explained in tears of joy.
Commenting on why he decided to ‘take Mt. Kilimanjaro challenge’
Cairns explained that, he has decided to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro which is
also famously known as ‘The Roof of Africa’ with also the aim of
delivering mobility into the lives of children, teens and adults, within
the community who otherwise would have limited resources to acquire a
wheelchair on their own in Canada and in Tanzania through the charity
Kilimanjaro climbing organized by the ZARA Tanzania Adventures for the
cause.
According to him, his mission through his charity organization called
Wheelchair of Hope Foundation is also transforming lives through
providing dignity of mobility, hope and opportunity through freedom of
independence.
“Through the generosity and support of both local and international
sponsors, Wheelchair of Hope Foundation is able to deliver hope,
independence, and enable human and social upward mobility…” Cairns
explained.
On his way to the highest top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Cairns provided
free toothbrushes and toothpaste to the marginalized children in Rombo
district, Kilimanjaro region donated by Family Dental Centre in Canada.
Explaining his life experience and how he became physically disabled,
John Cairns explained that; “Twenty-three years back, I was hit by a
train and survived,” he said. “I’ve met many mountains, some the size of
Mount Everest metaphorically, and have climbed and succeeded to achieve
just unbelievable success through tragedy.”
Two years ago, Cairns founded the Wheelchair of Hope Foundation,
which gives the gift of mobility by providing free devices such as
wheelchairs, power chairs and scooters to those who need them in and
around the Quinte region.
The foundation’s mission is to equip people with the devices they need to live their lives to the fullest, he said.
“When you think of everything that you do on a day-to-day basis, it
all centers around mobility,” Cairns said adding that mobility devices
positively impact the lives of those who receive them. We bring a higher
degree of quality of life that they’re so deserving of.” Cairns said.
For his part, a photo journalist form Canada, Lucas Wiseman who
reached the highest peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,895m ASL) explained that;
“I had a spirit of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro long time ago that’s why I
succeed and made it to Uhuru Peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,895 m ASL) under
great assistance from professional mountain guides from ZARA Tours, and
I’m now planning to climb other highest mountains of the World for
charity as we did..” he explained cheerfully.
According to him, scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro to the highest peak is way
of fulfilling his dream of helping the needy people worldwide being the
first young Tanzanian to scale and reach the highest peaks of the
highest mountains in different continents of the world famously known as
‘Seven Summits’.
As Wiseman recalls it was around 4:55 a.m. on August 7, 2016 after a
breath taking 2 and half hour slow walk from Stella Point that he
managed to reach Uhuru Peak, 5,895 meters, above sea level.
“For some
seconds I totally forgot that I came along with my friend John Cairns,
then some 20 minutes or so later turning I saw him going down from the
top of Mt. Kilimanjaro and told that he reached Gilman’s point. We both
made it!”
She recollected that was the culmination of “our nine day Mt.
Kilimanjaro climb” through the tough Rongai route that to him still
seems like a dream. “Reaching Uhuru peak was a dream come true but the
actual climb is a long episode that one’s need to grow old first to
forget,” he noted.
