Lewis pulls out of Kilimanjaro climb
Retired Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis may have been able to play in February’s Super Bowl less than four months after tearing a triceps muscle, but a foot injury and a fever are keeping him from completing a charity climb of Mount Kilimanjaro this weekend.
According to the Baltimore Sun, Lewis was scheduled to participate in the climb through a charitable organization called TackleKili, which raises money and awareness for clean water projects in East Africa. Lewis was already in Tanzania, where he and others -- including former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Tommie Harris and Brad Pitt's brother, Doug -- provided hearing aids to children earlier in the week.
To give someone hearing for the 1st time in their life is Life changing. pic.twitter.com/N5sPCfG3M7
— Ray Lewis (@raylewis) July 3, 2013
However, before the climb, which began Thursday, Lewis’ fever spiked and his foot began swelling. As a result, Lewis decided to pull out of that portion of the event.
"In the end, Ray’s decision was to let the team move on without him, rather than hold them back or put himself in a position where an injury which requires surgery could become even more complicated," TackleKili said in a statement to the Baltimore Sun. "As always, his team backed his play. So while Ray refocused his service to this cause at a lower altitude, his team began the ascent on behalf of those in desperate need of clean water."
Lewis also posted about the injury to his Twitter page:
Foot pain grew worse after yesterday's hearing mission. The team goes on; I will serve otherwise4 #cleanwater: more@: http://t.co/AYSBuurhN3
— Ray Lewis (@raylewis) July 4, 2013
The ascent of the 19,340-foot mountain is expected to be completed Sunday.
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