ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
A quadruple amputee is preparing to be the first of his kind to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
Kyle Maynard, 25,of Buford plans to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in January in an effort to raise awareness for disabled children in Africa.
Maynard was born with a condition known as congenital amputation that has left him with arms that end at the elbows and legs that end near his knees.
"To me I never knew different. My parents raised me with the attitude to believe that the disability was there, but it wasn't going to effect my life," said Maynard.
Maynard will be joining a team of wounded warriors and continue his training as he prepares to climb the mountain in January with Mission Kilimanjaro.
"Kilimanjaro will be the toughest test I've ever faced," said Maynard.
Mission Kilimanjaro is about achieving specific objectives that will inspire human beings, regardless of circumstances, to overcome perceived physical and mental limitations, transforming perspectives of what is possible through a no-barriers mindset along the way.
On Friday, Maynard and his team trained at Stone Mountain to test out adaptive equipment and get some training completed as a team unit.
"I look forward to sending the message to people to get up and do something. We have to let that mentality go of whining and complaining about all the bad things that have happened to us. There's a life to live, so live it," said Maynard. "People would think being born without arms and legs is the worst thing that can happen, but to me its the greatest gift I've ever been given."
Maynard will not use any prosthetics or be pulled up with any equipment.
He has is mountain bike tires wrapped around his limbs with gorilla tape and will crawl up the mountain on all fours.
"There's no Ace Hardware in Africa to pick up. If something breaks, we have to fix it," said Maynard.
Maynard has also trained in mixed martial arts (MMA). His amateur debut fight was at Auburn Fight Night at the Auburn Covered Arena in Auburn, Ala. on April 25, 2009.
You can find out more about Mission Kilimanjaro by clicking here.
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