Sifu and Simou Corder and Kaju AZ Ohana:
I hope this letter finds you well. I want to wish you a very prosperous and happy New Year! I am excited to inform you that I am training to hike Mount Kilimanjaro in June 2009! Kilimanjaro is the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, and what makes this trip so special is that I’m doing it with a team from The Foundation for Blind Children which includes nine blind climbers! The climb will span eight nights and rely heavily on teamwork and effective communication between the sighted climbers and the blind climbers. Our team has been training since May and will continue to do so until our journey in June 2009.
To help you fully understand my commitment to this challenge, I would like to briefly share my story with you.
My name is Tom Hicks and I am 42 years old. I live in Gilbert, Arizona with my wife and seven children. I will never forget the day I first heard from an Army Opthalmologist, “Captain Hicks you are legally blind.” My first thought was, “How am I going to provide for my wife and our children?” The onset of blindness rocked our family’s world and the challenges we were presented with were, in the beginning, overwhelming. We were filled with hopelessness, fear, and uncertainty. My 13 year U. S. Army career came to an abrupt end when I was diagnosed with a progressive degenerative retinal disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and I was medically discharged. That was 11 years ago. Ironically, a blind rehabilitation counselor once told me, “For some blindness is a mountain and for others it’s a walk in the park.”
Today, I work at the Phoenix VA Medical Center as a Case Manager and serve over 800 blind or visually impaired veterans with their blind adjustment and rehabilitation. Honestly, I have yet to meet the person for whom blindness is a “walk in the park.” I can say that slowly losing more and more eyesight each day is extremely challenging and the ripple effect of blindness touches everyone in that person’s life. I can say from my personal experience and what I observe as a blind rehabilitation professional, that in the beginning living a life with blindness seems hopeless and overwhelming like climbing a mountain and never reaching the summit. For me, climbing Kilimanjaro is very symbolic and it is all about hope and inspiration and creating awareness about the many services and programs offered at the Foundation for Blind Children that positively change lives and improve opportunities for those of us who must everyday “walk by faith and not by sight.” I want to be a part of the efforts that shatter the many myths and preconceived notions held toward blindness. I want others to know the truth about living a life with blindness, “You can do it!” Together with your support we can…will…must reach the summit of Kilimanjaro!
I am asking you to partner with me in this once-in-a-lifetime challenge to inspire hope in others and demonstrate the great accomplishments people with disabilities can achieve with equal access, training, and opportunity. Reaching the top of Kilimanjaro will not only testify to the power of those with a handicap, but will also signify reaching a new apex in what blind children and adults can do with the will and support to take a risk. If you are able and would like to contribute to my journey, please visit my Team page at http://www.SeeKiliOurWay.org to donate funds online. Simply click the “Climber” link on the left and then “Team Hicks”.
Your support will help raise awareness for the blind community as well as directly affect the programs of the Foundation for Blind Children. The Foundation for Blind Children is a charitable organization which is federally classified as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Donations to the Foundation may be tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
I thank you in advance for your support and hope this challenge brings as much encouragement to you as it will to me and our family.
Sincerely,
Sibak Thomas L. Hicks
(Lim Kenpo Karate Student)
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