This August, Megan Wheatley will lace up her hiking boots, take a deep breath and begin a life-affirming trek up Mount Kilimanjaro—the highest mountain in Africa.
For Megan, the climb isn’t just about reaching the 19,341-foot summit. It’s a symbolic journey—a way to honour how far she’s come since surviving a traumatic brain injury at the age of 17. It’s also a powerful fundraiser in support of Community Brain Injury Services (CBIS) at Providence Care.
Megan’s life changed in an instant in 2013 when the car she was riding in was T-boned by a truck. The vehicle flipped multiple times, with the car landing on its side. Though Megan wore a seatbelt and sustained no broken bones, the internal damage was severe: a traumatic brain injury disrupted her ability to focus, process language and regulate emotion. She spent several days in hospital before being released to recover at home.
Meeting Megan today, you would never know she is a traumatic brain injury survivor, but she still suffers lingering effects.
“I was a high achiever before the accident,” Megan recalls. “But afterwards, everything felt harder—especially school and emotional regulation. I lost years of memory, and even now I live with fatigue, sensory sensitivity and sometimes I struggle to find the right word when talking.”
Megan, who turns 30 this August, is determined to transform her personal challenge into a force for good. Though she never accessed CBIS herself, she’s committed to raising awareness and funds for others living with brain injuries.
“I decided I wanted to do something crazy for my 30th birthday, so my initial thought was to climb Kilimanjaro,” Megan says. “That would mean a lot to me, but what could I do so it would mean a lot to others? So, I thought about turning it into a fundraiser and I naturally gravitated towards raising money for brain injury support.”
Mount Kilimanjaro is no small feat, but Megan is no stranger to hard climbs. With a background in competitive sports and years of hiking experience, she’s training rigorously for the eight-day trek.
Her goal: raise $5,000 for CBIS and shine a light on the invisible challenges of brain injury recovery.
“I want to help spread the word about traumatic brain injuries and highlight that there are services around to help people who are struggling,” says Megan.
Megan’s climb is more than an adventure—it’s a testament to resilience, hope, and the power of community.
To support Megan’s journey and help other people dealing with traumatic brain injuries, visit her fundraiser page: From Impact to Altitude – CanadaHelps.