PARALYSED GIRL SCALES Mt. KILIMANJARO

Chrystel Alquiver sits on her special wheelchair surrounded by her relatives, friends and tour guides as she prepares to go and climb Mount Kilimanjaro. PHOTO|ADAMS IHUCHA By Adams Ihucha The Citizen Correspondent Moshi. Tanzania’s famous attractions have pulled a 33-year-old French tourist with disability to embark on a journey to become the first disabled female to scale the World’s highest freestanding mountain -- Kilimanjaro. Ms Chrystel Alquiver, whose both legs paralysed when she was 22-year-old, started her journey on Wednesday -- using a special wheelchair -- through Marangu route.She will be led by professional guides Victor Manyanga and Godfrey Mugana from Congema Tours and safaris Ltd. “I want to show the world that nothing is impossible. I would spend six days to reach the summit as normal people do,” says a determined Chrystel. She said that disability did not mean end of life; but just another side of it.“When I paralysed, there were two options -- either to commit suicide and die or face it. I chose life and today I’m proud of the way. I really feel lucky in life,” she told a press conference. Flagging off the girl, Congema Tours and Safaris managing director Constantine Malembela vowed to do everything to make her trip a success. “This is a rare incident, we feel fortunate to get a disable client whose mission is to scale Mount Kilimanjaro to inspire others,” he said. Congema boss further said that proves that the country was prepared to handle visitors of all kinds. “We offer customised holidays and safaris in Tanzania such as Serengeti, Selous Game Reserve and Ngorongoro Crater safaris, Zanzibar Beach holidays and Mount Kilimanjaro & Mount Meru climbing,” Mr Malembela said.