Former professional rugby player and incomplete quadriplegic Ed Jackson has made the first ascent of a 4,720m mountain in the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan, in what is believed to be the first time someone with a disability has made the first ascent of a high altitude peak.Jackson and his team reached the summit on Saturday 23 August, and he is believed to be the first climber with a disability to make the first ascent of a high altitude mountain. The climb marks a milestone in adaptive adventure, as Jackson continues to defy the odds after a life-changing spinal cord injury.Ed Jackson is a former rugby union professional and lifelong outdoor enthusiast. In an accident in 2017, Jackson fractured multiple vertebrae in his spine and doctors warned him that he may never walk again. He has since confounded the experts and found a way to return to the mountains. Jackson works closely with British outdoor brand Berghaus, which modifies kit to help him climb.The expedition to Kyrgyzstan had been in planning for over two years, and saw Jackson and his small team establish a remote advanced base camp with the support of local nomadic shepherds, before tackling the technical ascent across glacial terrain, steep ice and a rocky section to the summit. The successful climb adds to Jacksons reputation for redefining whats possible in the world of adventure and resilience.Reflecting on the climb, Jackson said: Ive been working towards this for so long, and for it to finally come to fruition feels incredible. The climb was far more technical and demanding than I could ever have imagined, and it took absolutely everything to reach the top. There were moments when I doubted whether my body could do it but I wasnt climbing alone. I felt the strength of everyone who has carried me to this point. This summit isnt just mine, it belongs to all of them too.Ed Jackson, photo by Toby RoneyJackson, who founded the Millimetres to Mountains Foundation (M2M) to support people facing adversity through outdoor challenges, dedicated the climb to the beneficiaries of the charity and the local Kyrgyz childrens organisation CDI Children at Risk. The mountains name will not be chosen by the team themselves, but rather by the children supported by the CDI programme in Bishkek. Jackson and the team will meet with them in the coming days.Jackson adds: Climbing this peak was never just about standing on the summit. It was about carrying with me all the people who cant be here, and giving something back in the process. The fact that the children were supporting in Kyrgyzstan will get to name this mountain only seems right to me.The expedition was led by Adrian Nelhams, a highly respected mountaineer and guide, whose mentorship Jackson credits as the reason that the ascent was possible. Sponsors and partners included Berghaus, Petzl, Grangers, Inigo Insurance, Texel Group, Airolo, LEKI, and ISM, whose support helped make the expedition possible.The climb has also raised funds for M2Ms projects in the UK and CDIs work with children with disabilities in Kyrgyzstan. Donations can be made online athttps://www.givengain.com/project/ed-raising-funds-for-millimetres-2-mountains-foundation-106370