国产吃瓜黑料 contributor discusses his plan to climb the seven summits and raise more than $1 millon for Alzheimer's research鈥攁ll within a year. To listen to the extended interview , or subscribe to our .
–Stayton Bonner聽
What鈥檚 the goal?
I鈥檓 trying to raise a million dollars for Alzheimer鈥檚 research and awareness of the disease, and to give visibility to the caregivers of Alzheimer鈥檚 patients.
Climbing background?
I didn鈥檛 live in my car and rock-climb as an 18-year-old. Around my mid-30s, I started climbing. Since my 38th birthday, I鈥檝e been on 25 expeditions around the world, including Broad Peak, K2, and Everest.
What motivated you to use climbing as a means for raising awareness about Alzheimer鈥檚?
My mother Ida died of Alzheimer鈥檚 about a year and a half ago. As we watched her going through the stages of Alzheimer鈥檚鈥攍osing your short-term memory, your long-term memory, your ability to care for yourself, your identity, and then your life鈥攚e felt horribly frustrated. I learned more and came to understand it can hit people in their 50s. It鈥檚 not related to diet or exercise. There鈥檚 no way to prevent it. And, worst of all, there鈥檚 no cure. So I said, 鈥淚 need to do something to raise awareness.鈥
What did you do?
I鈥檝e posted videos on my website and 国产吃瓜黑料 to hopefully bring people in. One of the most poignant moments was when I sat down to talk with her about my dad, who was going through some physical problems at the end of his life. I said, 鈥淢om, Dad is in some serious shape.鈥 She said, 鈥淚 know, I know. But who are you again?鈥 She had no idea who I was.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=wisTCq-lTqQ%C2%A0
How did that feel?
It was a wake-up call. Mom was always the memory keeper in our family. She could tell you what cousin Bill鈥檚 brother鈥檚 uncle did yesterday. So for her all of a sudden to not even recognize her own son was frustrating and sad. Later, I just totally broke down. It was a devastating personal moment.
How are the climbs going?聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽
I鈥檝e been overwhelmed by the number of emails I鈥檝e received from people who have parents going through Alzheimer鈥檚. It鈥檚 important to note that I never even touch a penny of the donations. The links on the site go straight to the . None of the money supports me or my climbs. I ask people to make a pledge of a penny a foot. Every time I raise another foot higher, it鈥檚 another penny in the bank.
But you take donations on the metric system as well?
Metric, imperial, intergalactic, you name it.