Unit 2: The Achilles Heel

The Ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro Day One We are at the foot of this amazing mountain. It's over 5,895 meters high. That's 19,340 feet. We've been training at home, but this challenge will [blank_start]go far beyond[blank_end] what we've done so far. I'm trying hard not to think about all the [blank_start]hardships[blank_end] that we're going to be facing. As far as I'm concerned, we're carrying a message of hope. That's [blank_start]what keeps me going[blank_end]. And I think that [blank_start]when the going gets tough[blank_end], we'll support each other.

The Ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro Day Three We've spent the last two days getting used to the altitude. The air is kind of thin up here! Now I see that the climb will be [blank_start]no small task[blank_end]. I'm really proud of our group. Most people have a lot of [blank_start]misconceptions[blank_end] about what disabled people can and cannot do. The [blank_start]stereotypical[blank_end] idea of an athlete is someone with big muscles and the full use of all his or her senses. Well, many of us just don't look like that: five of us are blind, one is deaf, and one is an amputee. So we are not your [blank_start]average[blank_end] climbers! In any case, we can't wait to begin going up this huge, beautiful mountain!

The Ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro Day Five A couple of days ago, two people in our team got sent back because they had started to feel unwell. The [blank_start]diagnosis[blank_end] was altitude sickness. Of course, they were [blank_start]devastated[blank_end], but we told them they were a big success to have made it as far as they did. We couldn't risk them getting worse or injured. In any case, they had already [blank_start]overcome great odds[blank_end], to have made it as far as they did. After that difficult experience, we [blank_start]buckled down[blank_end] hard yesterday and made a lot of progress. Now the summit is getting close. I'm still in good spirits. I think we're carrying a message of hope for everyone who wants to overcome a difficult challenge in life.

The Ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro Day Seven Get ready to hear this [blank_start]inspirational[blank_end] news... We're here! When we got to the top, we took a photo of the group, all together. All these incredible photos will [blank_start]make[blank_end] our trip [blank_start]look cool[blank_end] to our families! After we rested a while, we released a bag of feathers into the air as a symbol of hope. You can't believe how challenging this climb really was. At one point, I thought [blank_start]that was it[blank_end]: I nearly gave up. But somehow we were all able to [blank_start]persevere[blank_end] and keep on going. There are birds flying below us, and the air is clear. I want to remember this day forever.