A young man born with only one arm is planning to climb the highest mountain in Western Europe to raise cash for children with hand and arm deficiencies.
James Thompson, aged 24, from Moulton, Northampton, was born with half his arm and hand missing.
But the disability didn't stop him qualifying as an airline pilot six months ago, winning a tae kwon do student championship in 2006 or taking part in fundraising expeditions such as walking 50 miles around Northamptonshire in 24 hours.
And his next venture in July, to the summit of Mont Blanc, will be no less challenging.
He said: "The disability has made me more determined, which is why I have wanted to go out and do all this stuff. If I was born normal I don't think I would have done this.
"I always wanted to do something big, like everyone does. You have to live life to the full."
Reach, a charity which supports families with children missing part or all of their hands or arms, helped James's parents through the initial shock of discovering his condition when he was born.
James also won a £1,500 bursary through the charity to help fund his pilot training, and he qualified six months ago, so he decided his attempt on Mont Blanc would be in aid of Reach.
He said: "When my mum gave birth to me, back then the technology wasn't as good, so I came out and it was a big shock.
"Reach supported them and told them I might get bullied but I would do normal things like drive a car. I got called things like 'one-armed bandit', but everyone does for things like being a red-head."
James will be climbing the 4,810m mountain with friends Warren Ferguson, aged 39, from Church Brampton and Gary Palmer, aged 26, from Kingsthorpe, Northampton.
Anyone who wishes to sponsor James can visit www.justgiving.com/montblancmission
Northampton Chronicle, 16th May 2009
But the disability didn't stop him qualifying as an airline pilot six months ago, winning a tae kwon do student championship in 2006 or taking part in fundraising expeditions such as walking 50 miles around Northamptonshire in 24 hours.
And his next venture in July, to the summit of Mont Blanc, will be no less challenging.
He said: "The disability has made me more determined, which is why I have wanted to go out and do all this stuff. If I was born normal I don't think I would have done this.
"I always wanted to do something big, like everyone does. You have to live life to the full."
Reach, a charity which supports families with children missing part or all of their hands or arms, helped James's parents through the initial shock of discovering his condition when he was born.
James also won a £1,500 bursary through the charity to help fund his pilot training, and he qualified six months ago, so he decided his attempt on Mont Blanc would be in aid of Reach.
He said: "When my mum gave birth to me, back then the technology wasn't as good, so I came out and it was a big shock.
"Reach supported them and told them I might get bullied but I would do normal things like drive a car. I got called things like 'one-armed bandit', but everyone does for things like being a red-head."
James will be climbing the 4,810m mountain with friends Warren Ferguson, aged 39, from Church Brampton and Gary Palmer, aged 26, from Kingsthorpe, Northampton.
Anyone who wishes to sponsor James can visit www.justgiving.com/montblancmission
Northampton Chronicle, 16th May 2009
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