FRACKVILLE, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A local doctor returns home after climbing the tallest mountain in the world — for a cause. Dr. James Greenfield put down the stethoscope and picked up his hiking gear to take on Mount Everest.
“We can do a lot more than we think if we put our mind to it,” said Greenfield.
He mastered the 10-day hike, but he says it wasn’t easy! Saying, if he was doing it for himself, he wouldn’t have signed up! But he was doing it for others, specifically for 150 kids in Kenya.
Greenfield is a volunteer with the nonprofit Care Highway International. As a doctor, he’ll visit the facility in Africa for health checks. But he’ll also go on expeditions like this to raise money for the organization.
“We’re only here for so long, and if we can do things that help someone else in this world, it’s worth it,” said Greenfield.
Because of the time of year, the group could not hike to the peak of the mountain — which is only open for a short period in the spring. Instead, they hiked to base camp — which is still very high up! Everest base camp is about 18-thousand feet above sea level.
Greenfield spent months preparing for the trek, and took his time on the mountain, adjusting to the high altitudes, and taking it all in.
“Knowing that we’re helping these kids out. That’s what really made it worth it,” he said.
Now that he’s back home, it’s time to get back to work as a doctor in Schuylkill and Carbon counties, but he says as he does, he’ll keep spreading awareness about the organization.
And he’s already planning his next adventure! He plans to visit the kids in Kenya in the spring of 2019.
“There’s always something we can do,” said Greenfield.
For more information on the nonprofit group click here.
Originally Published at PAHomepage here
By: Haley Bianco
Date: Dec 02, 2017 07:00 PM EST