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 March 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 One-Off, 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.
Waddell has dedicated his life to defying the conventional wisdom of what a paraplegic can and cannot do. Through his work with the Paralympics, Waddell has proven that being a "para" doesn't mean living a disabled life. Waddell's athletic abilities garnered international attention and have helped to change the way disabled individuals are viewed.
The decision to summit Kilimanjaro, a first for a paraplegic, is intended to "shine the light back on the disabled — to show that if you take the time to look, you might be surprised." Waddell hopes that his incredible climb will provide a counterpoint to people's preconceived notions. "I hope my climb will make us see some of the 21+ million disabled people in the world in a whole new way," says Waddell.
o Edie Thys Morgan
o Rick D'elia
o Jeff Scott
o Scott Thomson
o Rachel Burks
o Kelly Holland
o Missy Greis
o Dean Cardinale
o John Lawrence
o Marcello Duarte
o Matt Ounsworth
o Paul Quinlan
o Nat Bryan
One Revolution is Waddell's motto for this expedition, and his life. "One revolution means so many things to me. One revolution of the handcycle, one revolution of the earth, one lifetime, one moment, one chance to make a difference."
One Revolution is also the name of the documentary which will capture Waddell's journey to the summit of Kilimanjaro. "The documentary is an important part of my climb, as my story is a visual one. People need to see to understand," explains Waddell.
One Revolution
One Handcycle Revolution
One Earth's Turn
One Lifetime
One Opportunity
One Moment
One Chance
One Change