Yorba Linda Boy's Mount Kilimanjaro Climb Will Raise Money For Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

YORBA LINDA (CBS) — The 8-year-old boy who climbed Mount Whitney has his eye on an even higher goal – raising money for a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa.

Tyler Armstrong, of Yorba Linda, plans to tackle the mountain in Tanzania from June 25 through July 2. Tyler is collecting a dollar for every foot he climbs from donors to raise money for CureDuchenne, a nonprofit dedicated to funding research for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

"I'm climbing 19,341 feet to the top of Mount. Kilimanjaro for boys with Duchenne who can't," Tyler said. "If people donate one dollar for every foot I climb, we can raise a lot of money to help find a cure for Duchenne."

Tyler made news last summer when he reached the summit of Mount Whitney in a single day. Whitney, at 14,505 feet, is the highest peak in the contiguous United States.

CureDuchenne is getting in on the effort by asking others to raise money with a "Pick Your Peak" challenge. Donors can raise money by choosing any mountain, hill or tall building to climb June 23 through June 30.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy affects one in 3,500 boys, who are usually diagnosed by 5 years old and have to depend on a wheelchair by 12. Most diagnosed with the disease do not live past their mid-20s.

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