The Team
Dinesh Ranasinghe (25) - Web developer and leg amputee.
Born in Sri Lanka, Dinesh had his right leg amputated at the age of nine due to a cancerous tumor in his knee. Shortly after his surgery, his family relocated to the United States in pursuit of a better education for Dinesh and his siblings. As an avid cyclist, Dinesh had participated in hand cycling marathons and other sporting events, and he was seeking a new challenge when he heard about Team Everest. It was exactly what he was looking for: "It wasn't something I wanted to do, but something I HAD to do."
Lakpa Sherpa (60) - Buddhist lama and arm amputee.
Born and raised in a small village in rural Nepal, Lakpa lost his arm to a snake bite when he was a boy. Although Mount Everest (Sagarmartha) is considered sacred to the Nepalese people, Lakpa's only experience with the mountain had been through photographs, and he had never before seen the high Himalayas firsthand. As a lama, this trek is a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual journey for Lakpa, and an opportunity to honor the deities whom Sherpas and other Tibetan Buddhists believe reside in the world's highest mountains.
Mark Gobble (26) - Teacher with profound deafness.
Deaf since childhood, Mark had always dreamed of going to Mount Everest. By sharing this experience with his students at the Texas School for the Deaf, Mark hopes to show his deaf students that they too, can follow their dreams and get out and see the world. Although Mark will travel with his co-worker and interpreter, Christine, trekking in the Himalayas away from the deaf community and his family may prove to be a greater isolation than he can bear.
Riley Woods (28) - Law student with paraplegia.
While attending West Point United States Military Academy, Riley suffered a skiing accident which resulted in paraplegia. An avid hiker and outdoorsman, he wasn't about to let his injury slow him down. Married to his high school sweetheart and closest friend, Rachel, Riley embarks on the trek without her by his side. But Riley quickly finds companionship in Matt, a teammate with similar injuries, abilities, and drive. A friendly competition develops, as they challenge and encourage one another to push harder and go further on the trail.