Tom Whittaker (mountaineer)
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'''Tom Whittaker''' (born [[1947]]) is the first disabled person to climb to the summit of [[Mount Everest]].
Whittaker's right foot needed to be [[amputation|amputated]] following a car accident in [[1979]]. Following this serious accident, he regained his strength and continued climbing. Through training, his [[prosthetic]] foot became an advantage to climbing rather than a disadvantage.
In [[1981]] he founded the Cooperative Wilderness Handicapped Outdoor Group (C.W.HOG) in [[Pocatello, Idaho]]. While living in Idaho, he was active in the southeast Idaho climbing community.
On [[May 27]], [[1998]], on his third attempt, Whittaker reached the summit of Mt. Everest, a lifelong dream, making him the first person with a disability to accomplish this feat.
Whittaker's current quest is to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents.
In the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours List, Whittaker was awarded the OBE.
==External links==
* [http://www.tomwhittaker.com Tom Whittaker's website]
* [http://www.janson.com/television/show_program.php?pid=1060 Documentary film, The Tom Whittaker Story: One Step at a Time]
[[Category:American mountain climbers|Whittaker, Tom]]
[[Category:Summiters of Mount Everest|Whittaker, Tom]]
[[Category:American amputees|Whittaker, Tom]]
[[Category:1947 births|Whittaker, Tom]]
[[Category:Living people|Whittaker, Tom]]