A BAADS Member Sets World Record by Walt Raineri

It is not every day that one gets out of bed and sets a meaningful world record to demonstrate that a disability does not mean inability.  On October 7, 2025, 9 of the almost 8 billion individuals on this planet did just that.  I, a totally blind person, was the first to reach Uhuru peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level on that date, followed by 8 other brave blind mountaineers on the team.  The combination of 9 blind climbers summiting Mount Kilimanjaro on the same date established a new world record. We hail from cities spread all across North America, and have no professional mountain climbing experience, but all of us sent a signal to the rest of the world that not only are we better together, but if you add a little courage, anyone can do anything.  

You can follow the team’s journey at the below indicated media sites:

Kilimanjaro Blind Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BAfgJCEAo/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Kilimanjaro Blind Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/kilimanjaroblind?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Kilimanjaro Blind Tiktok Page: https://www.tiktok.com/@kilimanjaroblind?_t=ZT-8zqHb9qPFFN&_r=1

If anyone would like a link to the 35 second video clip of me standing at the official Uhuru Peak sign atop Mount Kilimanjaro, please send to me your mobile phone number so I can text you the video which is too large to attached to this email.

With the sponsorship of VISION, a nonprofit organization , generously supported by many of you, we were able to engage a documentarian to follow us on our journey up to and down from Uhuru Peak high atop Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest free standing mountain on planet Earth. The footage is dramatic and captured not only the summit  effort on that eventful day, but also the triumphs and tragedies  leading up to the world record.  The documentary titled “More Vision Without Sight” is in post-production now and it is expected to be finished in the Winter of 2026.  Look for more viewing opportunities at film festivals near you in a few months.  If you have not yet done so and would like to support the continuing documentary effort to, for example, incorporate audio description on the sound track, please consider supporting VISION’s sponsorship of this project. 

Donations can be made directly to VISION via PayPal at the following link:

Click Here to Donate to                                            VISION

or also by using the VISION PayPal address of: visionvipfitness@gmail.com

Or indirectly on the VISION Go Fund me page at the following Link:

Fundraiser by Walter Raineri : Help Fund a Documentary About Record Breaking Blind Climbers

Or by Check: Make your check payable to VISION, and mail to VISION C/O Walter T. Raineri, 239 Brannan Street, Suite 9A, San Francisco, CA 94107.

Walt Raineri