Stephen Wampler, first person with CP to climb El Capitan, named UCP Man of the Year
From
Business Wire:
SAN DIEGO --The Stephen J. Wampler Foundation today announced that its founder, Stephen Wampler, has been named “Man of the Year” by United Cerebral Palsy (UCP).
Mr. Wampler will be recognized at the organization’s 2011 annual conference, “Life without Limits: It’s All Local,” to be held Monday, April 11 - Wednesday, April 13, 2011 in New Orleans.
Mr. Wampler was recognized by UCP for helping improve life for kids with disabilities through the Wampler Foundation’s summer camp programs, as well as becoming the first person with cerebral palsy to climb and summit El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in September 2010.
“Not only do both organizations want people with disabilities to live a full life, but also for able-bodied people to look beyond the chair or other aid device and see what people with disabilities are capable of.”
.“I am extremely honored to be recognized as United Cerebral Palsy’s ‘Man of the Year’. UCP and the Wampler Foundation have similar goals of getting people to realize a disability doesn’t mean life has to stop,” said Stephen J. Wampler, CEO of the Wampler Foundation. “Not only do both organizations want people with disabilities to live a full life, but also for able-bodied people to look beyond the chair or other aid device and see what people with disabilities are capable of.”
United Cerebral Palsy was founded more than 60 years ago by parents of children with cerebral palsy. Today, UCP is a leading service provider and advocate for children and adults with disabilities. Since its inception, UCP has been committed to change and progress for persons with disabilities and strives to ensure the inclusion into every facet of society – from the web to the workplace, from the classroom to the community – to ensure a life without limits for people with disabilities.
Widely considered one of the greatest challenges in rock climbing, Mr. Wampler’s climb of El Capitan took place over a six day period. With limited use of his arms and no use of his legs, Mr. Wampler utilized a specialized chair, which he designed himself, and used his arms to pull on a small bar attached to a pulley system. With each pull, he was lifted four to six inches. A total of approximately 20,000 pull-ups brought him to the summit.
Mr. Wampler was carried back down the mountain in victory by a group of U.S. Marines. Mr. Wampler’s motivation to do this climb was to raise money for the Wampler Foundation, which offers wilderness programs for children with physical disabilities. These programs are provided at no cost to the campers and their families through sponsorships and donations.
"ESET is very proud of all the work Stephen has accomplished, from starting the Wampler Foundation, to his climb of El Capitan, to now being named UCP's 'Man of the Year,'" said Andrew Lee, CEO at ESET, a corporate sponsor of the Wampler Foundation. "Much like UCP, we believe the Wampler Foundation's best work is inspiring and motivating kids to continue to live life just as they would without a disability. We look forward to seeing and participating in all the great work the Wampler Foundation will continue to do in the years ahead."
