Visually impaired minor climbs Victoria Peak, 2nd highest point in Belize
We’ve been following amazing twelve year old Rowan Garel. He’s the visually impaired student who took on the grueling climb to the summit of Victoria Peak. The trek started on Wednesday and this afternoon, Rowan successfully completed his personal challenge of reaching the summit. Rowan took on the task of climbing the second highest point in the country in an effort to raise much needed funds for an annual summer program held by the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired. With the sponsorship of Delta Airlines, a team of six including Garel’s father and News Five’s cameraman Alex Ellis made the trek to the mountaintop. We spoke with Rowan a few minutes after he completed his ascent to Victoria Peak.
Voice of: Rowan Garel, Visually Impaired Climber
Rowan Garel
“It was very tiring because on the second day your muscles are stiff because the first day is hills and stuff so the muscles are tired. The second day when you start you’re cold, your muscles are stiff and then after that it warms up and it feels like you can go on forever. I feel really good right now that I’m on top of this mountain and that I’m successful because I know that many people tried and they didn’t succeed but the point is they tried right. But I feel really good right now because even though I can’t see and I do have a disability I made it. So I think that other people that are sighted should think to themselves that, you know, well if he could make it [then why not me? I actually did this as a fundraiser for the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired, B.C.V.I., and they lost some major donors last year. 
We climbed it [Victoria Peak] because they had a summer camp and they had children from all over the children coming and some of them came from Corozal, P.G. and the surrounding villages. So they didn’t really get a chance to travel to other areas and when they are at the summer camp they could travel to Belize City first of all and then we do little trips to Bacab and Croc Land and stuff like that and they really enjoy that. So I think the funding got taken away from them so we’re doing this to help.”
News Five will have the complete feature story of Rowan’s journey to the top in the days ahead.
BELIZE this the example we need to be following. we that have all our senses cant do what this real hero has done. we alway complain but dont do anything.. GOOD JOB ROWAN
I am so touched by this story… I cried my eyes out! Good going Rowan!!! God Bless you!!
I am extremely proud of tis young man. He is the greatest inspiration and role model in Belize up to now. I am personally embarking on a campaign through this medium to encourage all Belizean Americans to assist in anyway they can for him to achieve his dreams in life. I pledge to donate camping equipments and gears to the organization on behalf of this remarkable little boy and hope to personally meet and congratulate him one day. He is awe inspiring!!!!
Congtars Rowan! More youths should engage in this sort of activity instaed of useless activities.
big up man like Festilence who climb also
Proud of you Rowan!!!!! —- Can other Belizeans get the courage and walk out and challenge life????? Look at how many young, strong guys rather stand on the streets and beg for a dollar; look at how they hang around chinese shops – just to be humilated, shouted at. Come on, get out of the city – adventure out to the districts and get some respect!!! Get a piece of land!!! Don’t cry that minister or Gov’t people don’t want to give land. Just look at people from neighbouring countries – they come in and squat on our land and work and work and WORK!!!!! Eventurally they get to own the land cuase of being there for many years. Grow chickens (chinese ready fu by them) Grow your vegies. Grow hogs (Guats ready fu buy any amount) Come on Belizeans – don’t sit there and cry. HAVE COURAGE LIKE YOUNG ROWAN!!!!!
Right on Joe! Rowan is a true inspiration. He may have climbed to the second highest peak in Belize to help raise funds for BCVI but he’s also proven that a sense of purpose is far greater than any of our other physical senses. Those young, strong guys that you speak of who prefer to hang out on street sides begging for a dollar are blinded by utter selfishness and a lack of any true sense of purpose. If Rowan’s feat has not inspired them I hope that at least it has inspired others to take up the torch and to do what they can to inspire those in our society who still suffer from spiritual blindness.