He hasn’t let a birth injury get in the way …
At birth, Paul Fejtek suffered a nerve injury, called brachial plexus palsy, or a paralysis of the arm. Because of the injury, he’s been unable to use his right hand like most people, but it hasn’t stopped him one bit. As he noted on the Today Show (video below), his mother started him on the right path, signing him up for activities such as water skiing, drum practice and judo lessons. That active start would lay a foundation for the activities he continues to pursue to this day.
… climbing the highest summits on each continent with his wife…
Paul met his wife, Denise, in 10th grade, but they didn’t get married until years after they graduated from college. Fittingly, Paul proposed on top of a mountain in the Canadian Rockies, fitting because they would later see many summits together. Starting in Africa in 2002, the couple from Southern California has climbed to the highest peaks on each continent. In order, they’ve climbed Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro, South America’s Aconcagua, Europe’s Mount Elbrus, North America’s Mount McKinley, Carstensz Pyramid in Australasia, Vinson Massif in Antarctica and, on May 23, they reached the top of Asia’s (and the world’s) highest peak, Mount Everest. Paul is able to climb courtesy of what he calls “The Claw,” a coat hook he attached to a brace strapped to his right wrist.
… and raising money for a cause.
Taking part in “Seven Summits for CAF,” Paul and Denise are raising money to help benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). Established in 1987, the organization provides grants to support athletes with physical disabilities. As part of the Everybody to Everest Challenge, others joined the cause as well, taking part in the Everest climb and raising money for CAF. Their collective goal is raising $290,290 ($10 for each of the 29,029 feet of Mount Everest). Paul and Denise are almost halfway to their personal $50,000 fundraising goal, and if you want to help, you can go to their website.
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Screengrab by pfejtek via YouTube.