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Paul Hockey had his right arm amputated at the shoulder on Anzac Day , 1963 due to bone cancer. He was just three weeks old.

At age eight, Paul began martial arts study. He now holds black belts in Shaolin Kung Fu (Chinese) and in Hapkido (Korean).

Some of Paul’s previous careers include a Japanese speaking tour guide,

Paul has lost his step father, his father, his aunt and his mother to cancer. It was this that inspired Paul to climb Everest to honour their memories and to raise money for children’s cancer research.

So began a five year journey that would eventually take Paul to the summit of Everest. As part of his training, he climbed the highest mountain in the southern hemisphere, Mt Aconcagua in the Andes.

But on his first Everest attempt in 2004, just 280 metres from the summit, Paul had to abandon the climb. His oxygen was too low, he was too slow and he had lost 15 kilos.

Paul was down, but not defeated.

As part of his training for his first Everest attempt, Paul carried 20 kilos of books in a backpack up a mountain road every second day for 10 km, for a full year.

So, for his second attempt, Paul carried 30 kilos of books, plus 2.5 kilo ankle weights up the same road. But this time he did it for 14km. And he did it EVERY day!

For Paul, being the person he is, his Everest attempt of 2004 wasn’t a failure, it was the best practice run a bloke could have.

A man of his word, in 2005 Paul became the first and, to date, the only disabled person in the world to climb Everest from the North side.

But the climb had taken its toll on Paul. He returned home broken physically, having lost 20 kilos and his hair turned grey.

Upon his return Paul was inundated with messages from the parents of disabled kids and kids with cancer. He’s given the keys to the city and speaks extensively to schools, universities and businesses.

Paul’s plan for the future is to continue raising money for CCIA and spread awareness of their work.

Paul now runs hiking tours in Cairns and enjoys jet skiing to the reef and islands with his three kids for snorkelling and spear fishing.