A British Army veteran who lost most of both his legs in an incident in Afghanistan recently became the first double above-knee amputee to make it to the summit of the highest mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro.
James Rose was on a tour of Helmand Province with the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment in 2009 when he stood on the pressure plate of an improvised explosive device and his life changed forever.
As well as a broken pelvis and tail bone, James lost both legs above the knee and – in that instant – his ability to walk.
Naturally, adjusting to the new life that he’d been dealt took time. James gained weight, suffered with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, but with the help of his family, he managed to get back to enjoying his life.
After deciding to better himself, James dropped a load of weight and began training. He regained his fitness, and with it, became a para-athlete and appeared at the Invictus Games in 2018.
During the games in Sydney, he competed in the Wheelchair Basketball and Sitting Volleyball events. He won silver and bronze medals at the games, but more importantly, made friends with another athlete named Darren Young.
The pair then decided to tackle Kilimanjaro together. Last month, they achieved their goal.
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I am Jeff Clark, founder of Internet Brothers, producer of this blog, and passionate about hiking. I live in Western NC near the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests are just out my door, so the content will focus on these areas, but let me know what you would like to see on the site. 
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