PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
Mike Muller holds a photo of U.S. Army Sgt. Franz Walkup, for whom Muller will embark on a climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise money.
BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE
LYNN — Mike Muller is planning to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in East Africa to raise money for a wounded soldier.
He is halfway towards the $20,000 fundraising goal to build U.S. Army Sgt. Franz Walkup and his wife Shannon an accessible home in their hometown of Woodbury, Tenn.
In 2012, Walkup, 25, was ambushed by a group of Afghan soldiers that his unit was training. He was shot five times, and suffered injuries to his lower stomach, back and leg. Since the attack, he has endured 78 surgeries.
“He was very lucky to survive,” Muller said. “It took him a year-and-a-half to be able to get out of bed and put his feet on the floor, and another year to be able to walk. He can walk, but not for great distances. He keeps fighting through this.”
Since Walkup is not an amputee, he doesn’t qualify for much government assistance. While he receives aid for medical expenses, he doesn’t get help for housing.
“He was a young, healthy, able-bodied kid,” Muller said. “He has a lifetime of challenges ahead. I think he needs whatever support we can give him.”
Muller grew up in Lynn where he served as a city councilor. For more than two decades, he worked in corporate sales. Since 2003, he and his family have lived in Georgetown.
While his family is fairly athletic, Muller said he lacks experience climbing mountains.
In preparation for the eight-day trek to the 19,336-foot summit of the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, Muller, his wife and their two daughters have been taking small journeys, but nothing compared to Kilimanjaro, the highest peak on the African continent.
On May 25, Muller and three friends, all supporting different causes, will travel to Africa. He expects it will take the group six days to climb the mountain and two days to descend.
Muller and his friends wanted to pursue the adventure anyway, because all four of them are turning 50 this year but decided that if they’re going to do it, they should do it for a cause.
“The freedoms that we have as individuals, we don’t have by accident,” Muller said. “Millions of Americans have stepped forward to serve our country. We all owe them a debt of gratitude. This is one way I hope to show my appreciation. By helping one soldier in need. I think he’s the perfect beneficiary of this type of effort. Supporting him will give me inspiration when I’m climbing.”
To donate to Muller’s cause, visit www.crowdrise.com/climb-kili-2016.
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.
