ID :
67401
Wed, 06/24/2009 - 11:52
Auther :

Blind trekker conquers Beas Kund



Coimbatore, Jun 23 (PTI) A 24-year-old visually impaired
man from the city in the southern indian state of Tamil Nadu
has successfully trekked 62 km to Beas Kund, located at 12,500
feet in Himachal Pradesh.

R Gopalakrishnan achieved this feat on June 12, under the
guidance of the National Adventure and Leadership School
(NALS), when he crossed several mountain streams, trekked on
snow-clad slopes and overcame boulders enroute to the glacier,
NALS director Lieutenant Seshadri told reporters here Tuesday.

A beaming Gopalakrishnan, who was present at the press
meet, said the experience has greatly enhanced his self
confidence. His mission in life now was to inspire youth to
overcome challenges and achieve their goals, he said.

"As I could see nothing, like boulders, rivers, deep pits
and slopes or heavy snow, there was no fear in my mind, unlike
other trekkers who can see," he said.

Gopalakrishnan was assisted by two instructors in this
pilot expedition, along with six students, Seshadri said.

NALS is organising the Beas trekking programme during
September one to October 20 and 40 persons were expected to
trek each day, he said.

The expedition is a fund raising event for Sankara Eye
Care Institutions and is dedicated to eradicating preventable
and curable blindness in India through one of the largest
rural outreach programmes, Seshadri said. PTI NVM
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