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DeAngelis chose route tailor-made to West Paul DeAngelis, co-owner of Mountain Climbing Adventures and Total Balance in Oakville, acted as West's guide on the trek up the mountain after being contacted by Free the Children co-founder Marc Kielburger. "I've been guiding Mt. Kilimanjaro as part of my business since the mid-nineties. Marc Kielburger approached me about eight months before and asked if it could be done," said DeAngelis. "Right away I said, `Absolutely,' and then I set about arranging the logistics of the trip." A veteran of 40 Mt. Kilimanjaro climbs, DeAngelis had to approach this one a little differently to account for West's wheelchair. "It was a different experience because I had to change the itinerary and the route for Spencer, but it was something that I was really happy to be a part of because it got such huge exposure and what he did was something so amazing," said DeAngelis. West's climbing campaign was called Redefine Possible and sought to complete several goals. The first was to attempt what the name implies and accomplish something few would have thought could be done and inspire people. Secondly, the climb was a fundraiser to provide clean drinking water for people in Eastern Africa, Continued from page 1 5 · Thursday, July 5, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com "The route that I picked was something that was very conducive to Spencer being in a wheelchair." Paul DeAngelis, co-owner Mountain Climbing Adventures and Total Balance, Oakville who are experiencing the worst drought in 60 years. To date, West is approximately three quarters of the way to his goal of $750,000. To combat the altitude, which DeAngelis called the "biggest challenge of Mt. Kilimanjaro," he had the group traverse the more gradual incline on the north side of the mountain. "The route that I picked was something that was very conducive to Spencer being in a wheelchair. However, Spencer was on his hands for about 80 per cent of the climb, which was a surprise," said DeAngelis. While the initial path of the trip was designed to acclimatize the group, the going always gets tougher the closer you get to the peak. The team awoke at 4 a.m. on the day of the summit to a cool temperature of -5 C and the most difficult climb yet. "The summit is always the most difficult day and the longest day. Even though the route I selected was more suited to their abilities, the final part of the mountain is steep no matter which way you go. Spencer did absolutely amazing on the final day," said DeAngelis. While the summit stood out as DeAngelis' favourite moment on the climb, another also sticks out in his mind. With his two friends Alex Meers and David Johnson suffering from altitude sickness, West said something DeAngelis will never forget. "His two friends got altitude sickness just prior to the summit and Spencer asked if they would make it?" said DeAngelis. "Then Spencer said that `this was the one point in his life he wished he had legs so he could help his friends up the climb'." While he was happy to be a part of such a unique climb with a worthwhile cause, DeAngelis hopes West can use the exposure to touch more lives. "As far as Spencer goes, if he wasn't famous before, he certainly will be after the word spreads." To donate to West's fund for Free the Children, visit his website at www.freethechildren.com/ redefinepossible. R.A.D. Ballet (ages 2.5-adult) Princess Pre Dance · Baby Ballet Kinder Ballet · R.A.D. Ballet Grades & Majors Programmes 6 years and under FREE dance skirt with new ballet registration. Princess Pre-Dance, Baby Ballet Kinder Ballet , Pre-Primary Ballet Primary Ballet, Ballet/Jazz Kiddy Hop, Kinder Jazz Kinder Tap Piano/Vocal Combination Fine Arts Free Quotes AMAZING RATES! Fast Service... 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