Patrick Chapin and Barney at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro

Patrick Chapin, the brother of islander Roger Chapin, returned to Central Florida recently after spending a week climbing, and then descending, 19,340-foot Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. More than 25,000 people climb the mountain, Africa's highest point, each year.

During the 20 minutes or so that Chapin’s group was at the top of Kilimanjaro, he held aloft a flag with the name of Roger’s daughter, 10-year-old Blair, and several other children who have Sanfilippo syndrome, an enzyme deficiency that causes developmental problems and ultimately results in dementia.

The flag featured the word “courage.”

“My brother and sister-in-law (Roger and Susan) fight to help others and they care for Blair with faith and unending love,” Patrick said in his blog, which can be found at chapintrek.wordpress.com. You can also find more information at theblairbanner.org

"I was sitting up there thinking that (the climb) was pretty tough and probably one of the most demanding things I've had to do mentally. But it was nothing compared with what my brother and sister-in-law deal with every day," Patrick said.View More images >>

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