Discover the incredible journey of Spencer West, born with sacral agenesis and having his legs amputated at five, who went on to climb Mount Kilimanjaro on his hands, raising $500,000 for clean water, and becoming a global motivational speaker advocating for disability justice.
Born with sacral agenesis, a rare genetic disease that led to the amputation of his legs at age five, Spencer West defied doctors' predictions of a limited life. Encouraged by his parents, he learned to navigate the world on his hands, by wheelchair, and skateboard. After graduating university and seeking a deeper purpose, he found his passion in international development work during a volunteer trip to Kenya in 2008. This led him to become a motivational speaker for a nonprofit, traveling the world to inspire young people. In 2011, inspired by his organization's founder, Spencer decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, aiming to raise $500,000 for clean water in East Africa. He spent a year fundraising and training with a personal trainer, garnering support from friends, doctors, and climbing experts. In June 2012, Spencer, accompanied by his friends Alex and David, began the arduous seven-day ascent. He initially planned to use a wheelchair for half the journey, but the challenging terrain made it impossible. Instead, he climbed predominantly on his hands, enduring dust, steep inclines, and extreme weather. Porters assisted by carrying him in a modified wheelchair over particularly difficult sections. As they ascended through alpine and lunar deserts, facing snow, ice, and high winds near the 5,895m summit, Spencer continued his remarkable climb. On summit day, a porter tied him to his back for the most dangerous initial part. Spencer then walked the rest of the way on his hands, reaching the summit at sunrise, where he and his friends celebrated with hugs and tears. He reflected on the journey, emphasizing the importance of asking for help. The climb profoundly impacted Spencer's life and career, leading him to speak to larger audiences and continue his advocacy for disability justice independently after his nonprofit closed. He now creates online content about being gay and disabled and has authored a book, 'Breaking Free,' sharing lessons on resilience. Spencer, now 45, attributes his resilience to having no other option but to pursue the life he desires, continuing to inspire others through his story.
