Teen reaches new heights on Kilimanjaro and more

When 13-year-old Nicolai Calabria made it to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the first thought that went through his head was, "I wish this headache would go away."

With the encouragement of his father, who fell just short of making it to the summit, Nicolai made it to the top. Born without his right leg, he faced wind chills of 20 below and struggled to breathe in an atmosphere with half the oxygen most are accustomed to.

But the story doesn't stop there.

In a few weeks, more than 1,000 wheelchairs will be delivered free of charge to people in Tanzania. It was all made possible by Nicolai's amazing feat, The Free Wheelchair Mission and an outpouring of donations.

"I'd like to thank everyone very much for donating to the cause. Everyone was really a part of it. I definitely couldn't have made it to the top without the thought: "Another step, another 30 cents," said Nicolai.

To date, he has nearly doubled his original goal of $25,000.

"The amount is very impressive, but what is more meaningful to me is when we were in Tanzania," said Nicolai's father Carl, "everyone knew someone who needed a wheelchair." Even one of guides on the trip had an uncle who used worn and torn underarm crutches.

"When [Nicolai] met that boy, he could see what he was doing was going to make a change in someone's life," said Carl.

What began as a two-week coming of age trip to celebrate his 13th birthday has turned into a life-changing event for thousands of Tanzanian residents who have struggled without a wheelchair to overcome their physical disabilities.

The climb up Kilimanjaro was also life changing for Nicolai, said his father Carl.

"He went up the mountain a boy and he came down a man," he said. After descending, "the way he held his head up was kind of different."

After watching the documentary "Emmanuel's Gift," in which one man, named Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, changes the stereotypes, legislation and treatment surrounding those with physical challenges in Ghana, Nicolai was inspired to help those living in a less fortunate society.

He had learned of Kilimanjaro from a television program and after pulling ideas from both documentaries, Nicolai decided to use the climb as a way to raise money for The Free Wheelchair Mission, which is based in California and was initiated by one of men in "Emmanuel's Gift."

By taking a simple lawn chair, adding reinforcements and wheels, a wheelchair can be constructed for $44.50 and sent to people in impoverished countries.

He began by asking donors to sponsor one cent for every foot he ascends. From start to finish, Nicolai climbed 13,000 feet.

It took five and a half days for Nicolai to reach the summit.