Martin Hibbert, 44, intends to take a Paralympic torch from the 2012 Games to Mt. Kilimanjaro’s summit in September. A regular climber might not warrant such attention however Martin Hibbert, suffering from a spinal injury received in the 2017 Manchester arena attack, is doing it paralysed from the waist down.
Using a custom-built hand bike, he expects a seven to ten-day period to achieve his mission. He wishes to prove that people can do anything with a little help and fundraise £1 million for the Spinal Injuries Association who helped him come to terms with how his life would change, and that he later became a trustee for.
Joining him on his climb is a team of twelve including Rob Grew, who went straight into the arena when the explosion occurred to help, and Stuart Wildman, the head nurse who treated Martin at Salford Royal.
He wishes to make the best of the tragic event, “It’s something I want to do – to turn an appalling act of terror in to the opposite, a powerful statement of hope and optimism”.
If you wish to support Martin in his challenge you can donate here, with the money going to support people who just like Martin have suffered from spinal injuries, and you can keep yourself up to date on the latest news for this challenge on the Facebook here.
As always, stay defiant!
#TeamDefiant