7-year-old boy plans Kilimanjaro climb

SHERMAN OAKS, Calif., Dec. 27 (UPI) -- A 7-year-old Southern California boy is preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, a 19,340-foot volcano in Tanzania.

"I want to be the youngest climber to ever reach the summit," said Keats Boyd. "I can do it."

Keats wants to raise funds for two African charities: Kids of Kilimanjaro and the Jane Goodall Institute, the Los Angeles Daily News reported Thursday.

"This has to be something bigger than yourself," said Bryan Boyd, 44, who has taken five months off work to help his son reach the summit. "If you're going to do this, you must do this to benefit others."

Keats said he and had watched a PBS television special about a man with polio who'd always wanted to climb Kilimanjaro, but couldn't.

"I can ... do that," Keats blurted out that day. "I want to do that!"

The Boyds will leave for Africa Jan. 7 and expect to make it to the top Jan. 22, returning Feb. 4.

The 75-mile round-trip climb -- to be assisted by guides and porters -- will include Keats, his dad and a family friend, followed by a TV producer and two cameramen. Mom will stay in base camp.