A Cornwall firefighter has successfully climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in memory of his daughter who died at just four months of age.
Ian Butcher made the climb this week in Tanzania along with his father-in-law Marcel Lalande and a collection of parents from eastern Ontario. The climb was done to help raise money and awareness for Roger's House - a residential hospice affiliated with the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
Facebook has been filled with accolades for Butcher.
"My sole motivation has always been Jovie," Butcher said in an interview just a few hours before leaving on the trip.
Jovie suffered from Trisomy 18, a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 18th chromosome.
Butcher had been training extensively for the climb, including work with a personal trainer and hiking in the Adirondacks. He lost 12 pounds and 10 per cent of his body fat prior to the climb.
He successfuly raised more than $15,000 for Roger's House. His goal was just $2,000.
More later.
