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BEND, Ore. — An Oregon teen has become the first known person with Down syndrome to hike 17,600 feet to the Mount Everest base camp.
Eli Reimer, 15, made the hike with his father, Justin Reimer, to raise awareness and money for The Elisha Foundation, which aids disabled children.
Justin Reimer told KPTV that when everyone else in their group was dragging, Eli lead the way. The two finished the climb last week and celebrated on Thursday, which was World Down Syndrome Day.
The Reimers arrived in Los Angeles on Friday to a crowd of well-wishers at the airport. Eli's grandparents, who live in North Carolina, spoke with WBTV about the pride they have in their grandson.
"To my grandson, atta boy," Dale Reimer said. "It gives him a sense of self esteem and a sense of self-worth."
The climb raised about $85,000 in donations. It will pay for all-expenses-paid vacations for children with disabilities and their families, according to Dale Reimer.
"His outreach is to include them all," he said, "and to care. They'll have crafts and they have story time and nature walks."
Mount Everest has two base camps: one in China at 16,900 feet, and another in Nepal at 17,600 feet. The Reimers climbed to the latter. Most climbers have to wait at the base camp for a few days when they arrive to get used to the elevation before continuing on.
