Every now and again, we meet someone that’s exactly who we need at that moment, they can be a missing puzzle piece in our journey. In this case, it was two disabled hikers who used each other’s strengths to get the job done.
Scroll down to hear this inspiring story!
This woman who can walk pairs up with a blind man to scale the hiking trails of Colorado.
Melanie Knecht was born with Spin Bifida and has no choice but using a wheelchair to get around. Her hiking buddy, Trevor Hahn, hasn’t alway’s been blind. He contracted glaucoma five years ago and has recently lost his eyesight from the disease.
After the two ran into each other twice, first at an adaptive boxing class and again at an adaptive rock climbing class, it’s like it was meant to be!
The duo started small, but plan on using his legs with her sight to climb a 14,000 ft mountain next month!
After a friend lifts Knecht into a carrier on Hahns back, she uses verbal directions to guide them through the trails and up the mountains.
They’ve been sharing their hikes on Instagram since February, on one post saying
“Hello, friends! We are Trevor and Melanie AKA Hiking with Sight, and together we are going to hike a 14,000 foot mountain in our beautiful home state of Colorado. In 2013, Trevor lost his vision to glaucoma, but has since been guided up mountains all over the world using a bell/voice system. Melanie, born with spina bifida, uses a wheelchair to get around. Trevor and Melanie became friends through their love of adaptive sports, which gave them the idea of utilizing both of their strengths to get outside! Melanie is the eyes of the operation, guiding Trevor as he hikes with Melanie on his back! Stay tuned to see how we creatively overcome challenges and summit mountains!”
The pair just wants to show others with disabilities that they should never count themselves out!
Melanie and Trevor can appreciate the fascination around there situation, but in the end, they just want to inspire others who may have counted themselves out in the past due to being disabled.
“Don’t not include them because you think they won’t be able to do something.” Said the pair.
Combining their strengths, the disabled duo, shows people everywhere the power of coming together.
This is truly a heartwarming story, to see people in difficult predicaments, coming together to succeed would inspire anyone!
The two have been interviewed by shows like Good Morning America to share their touching stories. Perhaps the best thing about this is the instant friendship that formed, which is now an unbreakable bond.
“It made me so happy to help someone experience what I’ve been able to experience my whole life. The best part is being able to make her smile, that gives me purpose.” Hahn told GMA.
This amazing team of two disabled people – hikes Colorado’s mountain trails.”He’s the legs, I’m the eyes.” Watch the video below!
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