The Climb Was Just the Beginning
Before the Climb
My story begins with deep scars—the kind you can’t see. A spinal cord injury from domestic violence changed the course of my life, leaving me paralyzed and confronting depression, grief, and trauma. But what I discovered is that the body isn’t the only thing that can be broken. And it isn’t the only thing that can heal.
The Mountain
In 2022, I became the second American woman to summit Mount Kilimanjaro using a wheelchair. But the mountain wasn’t the true challenge. The real climb was internal—and Meandering Scars, the documentary about that journey, tells that raw and powerful story.
Love and Legacy
My mountain guide, Winford Mtui, would later become my husband. After the climb, I returned to Tanzania not just to visit—but to stay, to build, and to live out a new mission. Together, we co-founded Winrica Adventures, a socially conscious tour company that empowers others through inclusive, transformational travel.
The Movement
Alongside our dear friend and catalyst Joey McGlamory, we co-founded Dealers of Hope Foundation and later Dealers of Hope USA. Together, we support people in rising above mental illness, poverty, disability, and trauma.
“Your scars aren’t shameful—they’re sacred. They’re not where your story ends. They’re where your mission begins.”
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