Brave Hearts

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Eye Care Foundation

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Loss of Sight, A Lot of Insight For two long years thereafter they spent hours daily in preparation and training, including acclimatization All exercises for ten days under the feet of the mountain. All this gave them enough idea about the " difficulties and me
milli
hazards they were
M
likely to encounter.
The determined march of Blind The golden
mountaineer moment to begin the assault on Kili-manjaro finally arrived in February 1969. Alex Macay, an active member of the Association of the Blind in Kenya issued the following statement to applaud and recognise the grit and the courage of the seven climbers :
"The venture undertaken by the blind young men is neither a stunt nor a joke. The blind do not have to spend their years idling under the shadow of their Shamba (hut), leading the life of dependents. The assault will prove that the blind are not a burden on their respective countries; on the contrary they are as much an asset to their nations as those who are normal with their visions intact."
During the assault, each climber was carrying in his haversack tied to his back sufficient food, bedding, clothing and drinking water. All this and some contingency equipment amounted to about 40 kg. in weight. They also took with them four guides. Normally each climber is accompanied by a
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