Our Story
ENABLED SPORTS is a result of the courage and determination of Nawang Sherpa and his many dedicated friends around the world. Their story is a long and interesting one, full of unexpected tragedies and successes, and guaranteed to inspire. Here is their story of Friendship Beyond Borders...
Nawang (far right) was an outstanding Trekking Sirdar (Leader) for our 1998 Annapurna Expedition in Nepal and aspired to climb Mount Everest some day. But in 2000 his left leg was amputated after being crushed in a traffic accident. He could only walk using crutches. His Everest dream was crushed too.
;)
But through his friends in Colorado and California, Nawang received his first prosthetic leg from Walter Racette of UCSF in mid-2001. He immediately started hiking again to gain strength.
Nawang also used indoor climbing gyms to regain his strength.
In 2002 Nawang was invited to climb with double-amputee Ed Hommer of Minnesota on his second attempt on Mount Everest. But tragically he died on Mount Rainier later that year.
In 2003 mountaineer Tom McMillan had a chance to climb Mount Everest, and invited Nawang to be his climbing partner for the attempt. Nawang accepted!
In 2003 Nawang was fitted with a high tech prosthetic leg for mountaineering
On May 16, 2004 Nawang and Tom and their team reached the summit of Mount Everest in perfect weather, then descended safely.