Hari Budha Magar, world’s first double above knee amputee to summit Mount Everest, has set out to summit the highest peak on each continent starting June 16.
The former British Gurkha soldier, who lost both of his legs to explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan in 2010, summited Mount Everest last year. The multiple record breaking climber wanted to take his message of “no legs, no limits” around the world, inspiring people that a disability and weakness shouldn’t limit your ability to achieve their dreams, read the announcement.
“Through my challenges, I wants to raise awareness of disability and positively change the way people with disabilities are perceived and how they perceive themselves,” he said, adding, “The best way to do that is to take my story to them. To climb the seven highest summits on the seven continents.”
He has already climbed three of the peaks — Mount Blanc (4,810m), Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895m) and Mount Everest (8,849m). Hari will next tackle North America’s highest peak Denali (6,190m) starting June16. Puncak Jaya (4,884m) in Oceania will be the next peak, followed by Aconcagua (6,961m) in South America. He will finish with Mount Vinson (4,892m) in Antarctica.
His plan is to complete all seven peaks by early 2026.
“I believe having a disability doesn’t have to be life limiting, it is all about adaptation, nothing is impossible,” he said.