11-Year-Old Climbing 14 Colorado 14ers in 14 Days

Matt Moniz may only be 11 years old but he’s already setting his sights high. Matt is attempting to climb 14 Colorado 14ers in 14 days to help raise money to pay his best friend’s medical bills.

Matt’s best friend, Ian, suffers from a condition called pulmonary arterial hypertension and needs $100,000 worth of annual medical treatments. Matt’s trying to raise money to help him and his family pay for the portion of that total that isn’t covered by insurance.

This won’t be Matt’s first time climbing at altitude. Last December, he became the youngest climber to summit Argentina’s 22,841-foot Cerro Aconcagua. He has also climbed (with his Dad) Europe’s Mount Elbrus, (18,510 feet) Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro, (19,341 feet), and trekked to Everest Base Camp, where he summitted nearby 18,501-foot Kala Patar. This time, though, he’s climbing with a purpose.

Ian is always struggling for oxygen because of his illness,” said Matt, who conceived of this latest climbing project to redirect attention from his success on Aconcagua to his friend’s illness. “What I feel on top of mountains is what he feels every day.”

Matt will be joined by his father, Mike Moniz, and Ian’s father on every climb. Several classmates and friends also plan on joining Matt for various climbs. The 14 chosen 14ers are Grays, Torreys, Democrat, Lincoln, Bross, Shavano, Tabeguache, Antero, Belford, Oxford, Missouri, Elbert, Bierstadt and Evans mountains.

If you’d like to keep up to date on Matt’s climbs and/or donate money to Ian’s recovery on Matt’s website.