A special summit to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro will have a Coast connection in Abilee Kellett and SideStix.
In a few days Kellett will join amputee Kimberly Fawcett, who will use SideStix sports crutches while climbing the 5,896-metre mountain.
Fawcett made history when she became the first Canadian soldier amputee to return to a war zone since the Korean war and she hopes to make history again when she stands on top of Mount Kilimanjaro and launches her new charity ParAthletes of Canada (PAC).
"Kids living with missing or amputated limbs should participate in sports from the sports field just like everyone else and not from the sidelines," Fawcett said.
Her new charity will help children with amputations compete and actively participate in sport.
Fawcett said she's heard from many child amputees about improperly fitting limbs and inadequate equipment that is impeding mobility.
"I am tired of hearing about the complaints which are widespread across Canada, so I decided to do something about it," she said.
To help bring attention to her new charity, Fawcett set up the climb, which will include eight other women, some fellow amputees and soldiers, who are set to leave Feb. 1.
Kellett first heard about Fawcett through her mom Sarah Doherty, who is the inventor of SideStix sports crutches.
The two women were acquaintances, but had never met.
So when Fawcett came to Kellett's university to talk about being an athlete with a disability, Kellett took the opportunity to meet her face to face.
"I went to meet her because I was interested and my mom knew her but hadn't met her yet, so it was a good way to make the connection," Kellett said.
Kellett and Fawcett went for lunch and soon formed a bond.
"She's great. Kim is really amazing. Her story and everything that she's been through and what she's done for so many other people - it's a pretty awesome thing, so it's hard not to bond with her," Kellett said.
When she heard about Fawcett's upcoming climb and the reason for it she was enthusiastic and wanted to be a part of it.
Fawcett was planning to use SideStix for part of her journey and needed someone knowledgeable about the crutches to come along.
"I've learned all about them, how to take them apart and how to fix things that can go wrong, so basically I'm going to go with some spare parts on this trip and a few of [the climbers] will be using SideStix. I'm just there sort of like their technician," Kellett said.
"But mostly I just wanted to sign up for the adventure. It sounded like a really cool thing, and Kim's organization PAC is also really cool, so it just all worked out that I could be a part of it."
Kellett leaves Vancouver on an early morning flight to Ottawa on Jan. 31 where she will meet up with the rest of the crew bound for Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
