Mentor inspires amputee toward Kilimanjaro

GEOFF Chandler won’t be alone when the amputee tackles the rugged 6000 metres of Mt Kilimajaro next year.
His mentor, Glen Bow, will be with him in spirit.
“Glen was my inspiration,” Mr Chandler said.
“He was with me along a lot of my life’s journey, so I want to take him with me on this challenge.”
Mr Chandler wants to dedicate his latest fundraising trek to his mentor, who lost his battle with cancer two years ago.
His funeral – “one of the biggest in Geelong I’ve ever seen” – was at St Mary’s Basilica and, fittingly, Mr Chandler will donate proceeds from his Mt Kilimanjaro expedition to Anam Cara House Geelong, sitting in the cathedral’s shadow.
Anam Cara is a community service providing care for people affected by a life-limiting illness, also providing respite for carers.
Mr Chandler made light of his challenge.
“It will be a walk in the park – Mt Kilimanjaro is set in a national park,” he laughed.
“It will test me to see how good my fitness is. It’s a six-day trek: four days up and two days down.”
The independent reported Mr Chandler’s first challenge, walking Kokoda last year only 12 months after having one leg amputated below the knee.
A motorbike accident left the jovial Geelong West father with an agonising leg injury and constant pain for 26 years.
But in 2010 he decided quality of life was more important than his injured leg and had it removed below the lege.
“You keep going or you drop,” Mr Chandler said with a shrug of the shoulders.
“You have to stay positive. Fitness and a healthy life are important.”