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Colorado resident and vegan Fred Distelhorst, who is 88-years-young, may just have set a new world record as the oldest person to climb the impressive heights of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Fred Distelhorst with his granddaughter Ellen. Photo: CBS
The 88-year-old retired dentist credited his vegan diet for his physical fitness, stating, “I think I’m in pretty good shape even though I’m a little old guy.” Distelhorst climbed the mountain with his 22-year-old granddaughter Ellen Edgerton, who launched a fundraising campaign in conjunction with the climb to benefit orphanages for children with AIDS in Kenya.
VegNews reports, “Distelhorst climbed the mountain with his 22-year-old granddaughter Ellen Edgerton, who launched a fundraising campaign in conjunction with the climb to benefit orphanages for children with AIDS in Kenya.”
Photo: CBS
Impressively, Distelhorst did it only needing oxygen on the final ascent during the six-day excursion.
“There were some times at night when I thought ‘I can’t believe we are really going through with this but we are so let’s give it our best,’” said his granddaughter Ellen.
Distelhorst’s incredible climb is currently under the review by the Guinness World Records to determine if the plant-based athlete will receive the title of the oldest person to conquer Kilimanjaro.
Photo: CBS
Gone are the days when vegans were seen as weak or protein deficient, as there’s now plenty of evidence to show that if you’re an athlete, eating plant-based can help you thrive and reach new heights — though maybe not the literal heights that Distelhorst reached! In fact, last year, climber Kuntal Joisher became the first-known vegan to summit Mount Everest, which is accepted by most as the highest mountain in the world, which is no mean feat!
