DUBOIS – Spencer West, speaker, author, and double-leg amputee who climbed Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro in June, will speak at Penn State DuBois in September.
West shared his inspirational story on CBS News in July. He has also told his tale of overcoming life’s hurdles in his book, Standing Tall; My Journey, published last year.
A 31-year-old native of Toronto, Canada, West was born with a genetic disorder that allowed him no use of his legs. At the age of five, doctors amputated his legs in order to increase his mobility.
After becoming bored working at his office job, West joined up with a charity called Free the Children and began leading kids from North America to Africa to build schools. It was while he was volunteering in Africa that he became inspired to set his sights higher than ever before, and tackle the world’s tallest stand-alone mountain.
When word got out about West’s intentions to climb Kilimanjaro, donations for the cause started pouring in. In the end, his climb raised $750,000 for Free the Children.
With the help of his friends, West climbed Kilimanjaro almost entirely on his hands. His companions helped him, with the aid of his specially designed wheelchair, only a fraction of the way. The group reached the nearly 20,000 foot summit in seven days.
All members of the public and campus community are invited to hear West recount his inspirational tales. He’ll speak at 12 p.m., Monday, Sept.24, in the Hiller Auditorium at Penn State DuBois. This event is free of charge.