A 67-year-old Woodlands resident defied all possible boundaries to embark on an awe-inspiring journey to conquer the heights of South America’s tallest mountain, Aconcagua. In the face of adversity, he transformed his Parkinson’s diagnosis into a powerful force for change. 

Diagnosed with the degenerative disease in 2017, he decided to channel his love for the outdoors into a mission to slow the progression of Parkinson’s. Breaking the boundaries put forward by age and a degenerative disease, the 67-year-old adventurer decided to take control of his life into his own hands and weave an extraordinary tale of triumph.

Parkinson’s warrior’s Aconcagua ascent raises $41,500

Thomas Melli settled in Woodlands about 10 years ago. In 2017 his life took an unexpected turn. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and was informed that there was no complete cure. Melli has always been an adventure enthusiast, and thus he often spends his leisurely days hiking and camping with his sons. 

After he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s he did not let go of his passion and dreams. Rather he decided to buckle up and started to delve more hours into training himself to climb a few highest peaks in the world. He believed that this would in turn slow down the effects of Parkinson’s.

Melli shared, “It’s not that I ever left, it’s that I did it with less intensity before.” Melli’s doctor suggested that he somehow stay fit to control the progress of the disease and slow down the effects of it. And that was when he decided to delve even more into hiking. Reflecting more he added, “Going to the mountain was an excuse to go to the gym.”

Melli conquered the highest peak in Africa, a 5,895-meter-tall dormant volcanic peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro a few months ago. After having successfully conquered Kilimanjaro, Melli now sets his sights on the towering Aconcagua in Argentina, a monumental challenge that stands at 22,837 feet. The highest peak of all others outside of Asia is one of the most challenging peaks to conquer. 

But the determined 67-year-old shared, “The mountain is unforgiving, but that’s the challenge. It’s majestic. The views that you have there, the camaraderie that you have with other people on the mountain, people you don’t even know… it’s incredible.”

As he ascended, he didn’t just face the unforgiving terrain, but he went on to transform his climb into a beacon of hope. With every step towards the zenith, he raised funds for Parkinson’s research, exceeding his initial goal and rallying support from over 130 donors, both familiar faces and strangers. The total raised amount was donated by Melli to The Michael J. Fox Foundations for Parkinson’s Research.

Thomas Melli defies odds, raises $41.5k atop Aconcagua

Melli along with his group of 12 started their hike on January 8 and planned to conquer the summit within 18 days. He reached one of the highest base camps in the world. Praising him, another hiker from his group, Julio Adrita said, “He really is an amazing person. To get there slow and steady, step after step after step, it’s incredible”.

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Four members of the team managed to reach the top and raised over $41,500. The four members reached the peak and also carried the banner of Melli’s Michael J. Fox Foundation. As Melli is taking a break and resting in his home country for a few days, he has also already started planning for his next expedition.

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