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Tinkesh Kaushik, adventure enthusiast and triple amputee who scaled Mt Everest base camp on his prosthetic limbs this year, is preparing to set a record by leading an inclusive group (persons with disability and non-disabled persons) from across the country, on a trek to the Annapurna base camp in April.
Three months of endurance training in preparation for the inclusive group of around 15 persons — which include blind persons and amputees (some without lower or upper limbs) as well as non-disabled and support staff, will begin next month.
All are active sportspersons, but this will be the first trek of its kind for them.
“We want to send out a message of inclusivity. It’s important for everyone --not just the non-disabled people-- to explore the world and enjoy nature,” Tinkesh, who has 90 per cent locomotor disability, told TOI.
He has been invited to attend the Goa Liberation Day programme on Thursday where CM is expected to felicitate him for his outstanding performance in the field of adventure sports.
After he successfully completed the Mt Everest Base Camp in May, many persons with disability got in touch with him telling him that they too would like to do the same. His foundation then sent Chhonzin Angmo, a woman having 100 per cent visual impairment, to the same base camp.
“In Sept this year, an inclusive group of 90 Israelis trekked to the Annapurna base camp. The group had 34 persons with disabilities and even 12 wheelchair users. India has never attempted anything on this scale. We want to set a record by taking the largest Indian inclusive group on a trek to Annapurna base camp to send out a message that persons with disabilities are no less capable,” said Sydenstrica, Tinkesh’s mentor and founder chairperson of the Tinkesh Ability Foundation.
