Aussie beats life-long struggle to climb highest mountain

In a bid to prove anything is possible, Aussie Peter Wilson laced up his shoes and climbed to the top of Mt Kosciuszko, despite a life-long struggle with pain as a result of being born with cerebral palsy.

“I did wonder if my body as a whole would cope with such a challenging walk,” Peter tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “My disability has never defined who I am but my overall body strength and my balance are reduced.”

Born with cerebral palsy, the 53-year-old, from Adaminaby NSW, has suffered joint pain for most of his life, until it worsened when he reached his 40’s. The pain grew severe due to his hip dysplasia – a condition he developed as a result of his cerebral palsy.

Peter says it hard for him to undertake day to day activities without feeling pain.

However, after setting his sights on returning to the top of the mountain for the first time since he was a teenager, Peter decided to make some changes - including intense physiotherapy, and daily use of a new Australian-made supplement Arborvitae Joint Health - to turn his dream into reality.

“In June 2020, I began a careful process of greater exercise which included more physiotherapy exercise as well as walking and riding my exercise bike,” he explains.

“Each week, I was able to walk further and ride my bike further.”

Peter says both his physios Lara and Amber were incredibly supportive of his goal, deciding they would do the walk with him.

Dubbed ‘Pete’s Challenge’, in the end Peter and 11 of his supporters tackled the 13km hike to summit, all while raising funds for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance – a charity close to his heart.

“I live near, and absolutely adore the mountains and Kosciuszko National Park,” he says, telling Yahoo Lifestyle he laughed and cried when he made it to the top in December.

“I had a huge sense of euphoria. I was actually here. I had made it,” he recalls.

“I laughed, I cried and I celebrated the achievement with my support team – it was just as special for them as it was for me.”

Peter credits his success to his amazing support team and his own determination, hoping that his story will inspire others to dream big.

“We are all people first. Any limitation we might have does not define us as a person,” he says.

“We are able to achieve so much in life, if we prepare for it and are open to it.

“If you have a goal you would like to reach: focus on it, work for it and don’t give up until you reach it.”

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