A RENOWNED para-athlete and proud advocate for empowering persons with disability (PWD) proved that disability never hinders someone from helping others, as he launched a “fundraising mountain climbing” event.

Arnold "Captain A" Balais is set to climb the country's highest peak, Mount Apo, again on May 28, and this time for a good cause.

Balais, who climbed Mount Apo in 2013 for leisure, recently launched "Climb for Everlasting Hope," a fundraising event to help his beneficiary Everlasting Hope Cebu, a non-profit organization that is helping around 200 children battling cancer.

Balais said choosing Everlasting Hope as his beneficiary came from an experience with his father, who succumbed to colon cancer last year.

He said that since then, his passion for helping individuals, particularly children with their cancer treatments began.

"The activity is open to all interested nationwide, and they can register by visiting Climb for Everlasting Hope's Facebook page. The registration fee is P6,500, including food, permit, and payment for the tour guides," Balais told SunStar Cebu.

Balais said 50 percent of the proceeds for the climb would be donated to the children at Everlasting Hope.

Aside from the registration fee, participants could also add in-kind donations such as vitamins, milk, and other basic commodities.

As of Friday, February 10, 2023, Balais said they already have three registrants. He said they hope to gather 50 participants and donate more or less P100,000 to their chosen beneficiary.

Aside from mountain climbing, Balais said they would organize inspirational talks for PWDs in Kidapawan, where the trail to Mount Apo starts.

In an interview on February 10, Balais shared how he grew up having a passion for sports.

As a native of Bataan in Central Luzon, he said he enjoyed climbing mountains since childhood, particularly to gather firewood.

His first love was basketball, but he got into an accident while playing it when he was in his third year in high school.

"My right leg had a slight fracture. But because I was too afraid to go to the hospital, it caught an infection before it was treated, and unfortunately, it was amputated after a year," said Balais.

Despite what happened, he never gave up, but instead embraced his condition and continued striving for success and growth.

In 2013, he was hailed as the first amputated individual to have climbed the Philippines' tallest mountain.

He is also the team leader of the award-winning Cebu-based dragon boat racing team Pads (Philippine Adaptive Disability Services).

Balais said that right after climbing Mount Apo in May, he plans to climb other mountains and help more charitable organizations.

"To all my co-PWDs, you have to always believe in yourself. Know that no matter what happens, your life has a purpose," said Balais. (HIC)