This has been the most difficult thing I have ever done – all in a great cause.
Oliver booked the trip after he heard Ben Fogle speak at De Montfort University.
"After listening to his fantastic stories of climbing Mount Everest, I wanted my own challenge and just booked Kilimanjaro the following week."
He booked through an adventure travel company and met the group of 12 people when he got there. To prepare he trained for a year with a personal trainer – at the same time as working two jobs.
"Both the jobs were in hospitality so I’ve been on my feet all day 6 days a week which has been good training too, I think. I also have been seeing a chiropractor for help. I have a passion for travel, even though I’ve not done anything like this before. I have worked in the USA at a summer camp as a lifeguard. Lived, worked and travelled in Australia and travelled through south East Asia and Europe all by myself, so I’m not afraid of a different challenge."
He was actually travelling in Australia when he was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. He had swollen knees and his achilles were in real pain when he went to a doctor in Melbourne. Currently, he manages well, although he says he can’t push himself too hard in the gym.
Oliver’s mum, Doreen Teather said:
"I am very proud of my son, Oliver, who has a rare muscle condition but keeps surprising me and my family by achieving more than most of us do in our lifetime.
"He has now added a trek up Kilimanjaro to his list of achievements; which includes helping children in America at their summer camps, living in Australia for a year and then backpacking in south east Asia, not to mention all of his smaller trips over Europe doing bungee jumping, parachuting and other things.
"All his trips are funded by himself, working a few jobs at a time. I cannot explain to people how proud and inspirational it is to me that he’s achieving these things, especially when you have a deteriorating muscle condition, it proves if you put your mind to it anything can be achieved."
You can donate to Oliver’s page here.