MOUNTAINEERING NEWS ITEM

Man Expands Boundaries through Climbing

THURSDAY, 30 AUGUST 2007

No amount of pain and not even his disability could stop 45-year-old Bill Barkley from joining a team of climbers who are set to ascend Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania soon.

Barkeley was born with Usher's syndrome, an inherited condition that causes serious hearing loss, usually at birth, and progressive vision loss.

The disorder affects about 20,000 people in the United States and 100,000 worldwide, according to the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Furthermore, Barkeley does not have peripheral or night vision. In time, he will be completely blind. He wears a pair of over-the-ear digital hearing aids to carry on conversations.

However, these trivial things about his condition could not stop this guy from pursuing what he loves the most. Since January, Barkley has already been preparing for the said trek to Mt. Kilimanjaro. He will make the 19,340-foot climb to prove a point: Technology can unfetter those with disabilities in ways that once seemed like science fiction.

Barkley believes in expanding boundaries and dashing misconceptions.

If he needs to climb a mountain to nudge those two goals forward for people with disabilities, he will.

People will be able to chart Barkeley's mountaineering online by visiting heartheworld.com, starting Sept. 12. It's expected to take six days to reach the summit. His blog and photos will be updated daily.

Visit www.mlive.com for more information.

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