six months ago I decided to climb 16 4000 meter peaks in five days and when I
4000 meter peaks in five days and when I
4000 meter peaks in five days and when I told my friends they looked at me and
told my friends they looked at me and
told my friends they looked at me and they said what Oh
they said what Oh
they said what Oh are you completely crazy to understand
are you completely crazy to understand
are you completely crazy to understand my friends you should know that two
my friends you should know that two
my friends you should know that two years ago probably to this moment I was
years ago probably to this moment I was
years ago probably to this moment I was lying on a sofa exhausted despairing and
lying on a sofa exhausted despairing and
lying on a sofa exhausted despairing and with a fire burning in my back I have a
with a fire burning in my back I have a
with a fire burning in my back I have a musculoskeletal disorder called
musculoskeletal disorder called
musculoskeletal disorder called ankylosing spondylitis or more
ankylosing spondylitis or more
ankylosing spondylitis or more respective ankylosing spondylitis is an
respective ankylosing spondylitis is an
respective ankylosing spondylitis is an autoimmune form of arthritis that causes
autoimmune form of arthritis that causes
autoimmune form of arthritis that causes inflammation in the spine which may over
inflammation in the spine which may over
inflammation in the spine which may over time leading lead to the fusing of the
time leading lead to the fusing of the
time leading lead to the fusing of the vertebrae it also attacks other parts of
vertebrae it also attacks other parts of
vertebrae it also attacks other parts of your body the eyes the the joints the
your body the eyes the the joints the
your body the eyes the the joints the intestine it runs in families
intestine it runs in families
intestine it runs in families my grandfather had it my brother has it
my grandfather had it my brother has it
my grandfather had it my brother has it but what actually triggers it is not
but what actually triggers it is not
but what actually triggers it is not fully understood one thing is clear
fully understood one thing is clear
fully understood one thing is clear there is no cure in summer 2015 I was in
there is no cure in summer 2015 I was in
there is no cure in summer 2015 I was in a bad way and my rheumatologist proposed
a bad way and my rheumatologist proposed
a bad way and my rheumatologist proposed a therapy which would suppress the part
a therapy which would suppress the part
a therapy which would suppress the part of my immune system that was making me
of my immune system that was making me
of my immune system that was making me ill I read it read up about it when I
ill I read it read up about it when I
ill I read it read up about it when I saw the side effects I thought no not
saw the side effects I thought no not
saw the side effects I thought no not that I’d managed my disease for 30 years
that I’d managed my disease for 30 years
that I’d managed my disease for 30 years more or less without much medication and
more or less without much medication and
more or less without much medication and I thought I’ll get back control of my
I thought I’ll get back control of my
I thought I’ll get back control of my body without putting those substances
body without putting those substances
body without putting those substances into it but I was wrong
into it but I was wrong
into it but I was wrong I got thinner and weaker and was
I got thinner and weaker and was
I got thinner and weaker and was consumed by never-ending pain and I said
consumed by never-ending pain and I said
consumed by never-ending pain and I said to my doctor okay let’s do the therapy I
to my doctor okay let’s do the therapy I
to my doctor okay let’s do the therapy I got the first treatment just before
got the first treatment just before
got the first treatment just before Christmas 2015 and on Christmas Eve I
Christmas 2015 and on Christmas Eve I
Christmas 2015 and on Christmas Eve I flew to London to visit my family as I
flew to London to visit my family as I
flew to London to visit my family as I could only walk a few yards
could only walk a few yards
could only walk a few yards I got a wheelchair service at the
I got a wheelchair service at the
I got a wheelchair service at the airport you get wheeled to the front of
airport you get wheeled to the front of
airport you get wheeled to the front of the queue you get to board first in
the queue you get to board first in
the queue you get to board first in front of the upgraded passengers it’s
front of the upgraded passengers it’s
front of the upgraded passengers it’s really rather nice and the next day was
really rather nice and the next day was
really rather nice and the next day was Christmas Day and my mother wanted to go
Christmas Day and my mother wanted to go
Christmas Day and my mother wanted to go to church I said okay let’s go to church
to church I said okay let’s go to church
to church I said okay let’s go to church and I was stiff and I wasn’t used to it
and I was stiff and I wasn’t used to it
and I was stiff and I wasn’t used to it I was slow but I walked those 200 meters
I was slow but I walked those 200 meters
I was slow but I walked those 200 meters to the church and 200 beats us back the
to the church and 200 beats us back the
to the church and 200 beats us back the therapy was working so now perhaps you
therapy was working so now perhaps you
therapy was working so now perhaps you understand why I wanted to do this tour
understand why I wanted to do this tour
understand why I wanted to do this tour I felt better than I’ve felt for years
I felt better than I’ve felt for years
I felt better than I’ve felt for years and the interesting thing was the more I
and the interesting thing was the more I
and the interesting thing was the more I moved the more sport I did the less pain
moved the more sport I did the less pain
moved the more sport I did the less pain I had and I thought I wonder where this
I had and I thought I wonder where this
I had and I thought I wonder where this ends could I do something radical like
ends could I do something radical like
ends could I do something radical like 16 4000 meter Peaks in five days another
16 4000 meter Peaks in five days another
16 4000 meter Peaks in five days another motivation was gratitude I wanted to
motivation was gratitude I wanted to
motivation was gratitude I wanted to show what’s possible when effective
show what’s possible when effective
show what’s possible when effective therapies are found in the US over half
therapies are found in the US over half
therapies are found in the US over half the population reports a musculoskeletal
the population reports a musculoskeletal
the population reports a musculoskeletal condition in other high-income countries
condition in other high-income countries
condition in other high-income countries between one person in three or four has
between one person in three or four has
between one person in three or four has a rheumatic disorder so look to your
a rheumatic disorder so look to your
a rheumatic disorder so look to your left and right one of you probably has
left and right one of you probably has
left and right one of you probably has or will have a rheumatic disorder in
or will have a rheumatic disorder in
or will have a rheumatic disorder in lower and middle-income countries Russia
lower and middle-income countries Russia
lower and middle-income countries Russia China India a study has found that
China India a study has found that
China India a study has found that arthritis is widespread
arthritis is widespread
arthritis is widespread rheumatoid arthritis osteoarthritis
rheumatoid arthritis osteoarthritis
rheumatoid arthritis osteoarthritis ankylosing spondylitis despite probable
ankylosing spondylitis despite probable
ankylosing spondylitis despite probable underreporting rheumatic diseases are a
underreporting rheumatic diseases are a
underreporting rheumatic diseases are a huge global health problem and as we
huge global health problem and as we
huge global health problem and as we don’t know what causes them and we don’t
don’t know what causes them and we don’t
don’t know what causes them and we don’t have cures you’d think there’d be a lot
have cures you’d think there’d be a lot
have cures you’d think there’d be a lot of research it’s hard to find figures
of research it’s hard to find figures
of research it’s hard to find figures but for the u.s. just six percent of
but for the u.s. just six percent of
but for the u.s. just six percent of total health research funding is for
total health research funding is for
total health research funding is for musculoskeletal disorders these diseases
musculoskeletal disorders these diseases
musculoskeletal disorders these diseases are chronic and debilitating I couldn’t
are chronic and debilitating I couldn’t
are chronic and debilitating I couldn’t walk to the shops I couldn’t sit at a
walk to the shops I couldn’t sit at a
walk to the shops I couldn’t sit at a computer other people can’t use a
computer other people can’t use a
computer other people can’t use a keyboard I couldn’t sleep
keyboard I couldn’t sleep
keyboard I couldn’t sleep but arthritis won’t kill me at least not
but arthritis won’t kill me at least not
but arthritis won’t kill me at least not right away is that why research is so
right away is that why research is so
right away is that why research is so underfunded I won’t die of arthritis but
underfunded I won’t die of arthritis but
underfunded I won’t die of arthritis but without treatment
without treatment
without treatment I don’t live either I exist
I don’t live either I exist
I don’t live either I exist somehow the therapy and I have has
somehow the therapy and I have has
somehow the therapy and I have has revolutionized the treatment of several
revolutionized the treatment of several
revolutionized the treatment of several types of arthritis but not all it
types of arthritis but not all it
types of arthritis but not all it doesn’t work for everybody there are
doesn’t work for everybody there are
doesn’t work for everybody there are side effects and it’s very expensive so
side effects and it’s very expensive so
side effects and it’s very expensive so not everybody who needs it gets it with
not everybody who needs it gets it with
not everybody who needs it gets it with my trip I wanted to show that with an
my trip I wanted to show that with an
my trip I wanted to show that with an effective therapy people like me can get
effective therapy people like me can get
effective therapy people like me can get out of the wheelchair and do the things
out of the wheelchair and do the things
out of the wheelchair and do the things they want to do and I wanted to go to
they want to do and I wanted to go to
they want to do and I wanted to go to the mountains
the mountains
the mountains I loved the different colors of rock in
I loved the different colors of rock in
I loved the different colors of rock in the mountains there millions of years
the mountains there millions of years
the mountains there millions of years old covered by snow that perhaps fell
old covered by snow that perhaps fell
old covered by snow that perhaps fell yesterday I loved the panoramas during
yesterday I loved the panoramas during
yesterday I loved the panoramas during our week it was bad weather on the POE
our week it was bad weather on the POE
our week it was bad weather on the POE plane but the view up high is
plane but the view up high is
plane but the view up high is spectacular I love walking through
spectacular I love walking through
spectacular I love walking through glacial landscapes but compacted snow
glacial landscapes but compacted snow
glacial landscapes but compacted snow and ice thousands of years old looks
and ice thousands of years old looks
and ice thousands of years old looks like white
like white
like white and on the summits that winds play games
and on the summits that winds play games
and on the summits that winds play games with the snow and form exotic structures
with the snow and form exotic structures
with the snow and form exotic structures with cavities and holes and hollows and
with cavities and holes and hollows and
with cavities and holes and hollows and wild patterns in the ice in the
wild patterns in the ice in the
wild patterns in the ice in the mountains you get a feeling of how small
mountains you get a feeling of how small
mountains you get a feeling of how small you are you see the people on the ridge
you are you see the people on the ridge
you are you see the people on the ridge and of course the summits where the team
and of course the summits where the team
and of course the summits where the team comes together to celebrate and wonder
comes together to celebrate and wonder
comes together to celebrate and wonder and the old lady at the back I want to
and the old lady at the back I want to
and the old lady at the back I want to tell you about my tour I went to the
tell you about my tour I went to the
tell you about my tour I went to the Monte Rosa Mountains which is in the
Monte Rosa Mountains which is in the
Monte Rosa Mountains which is in the border area between Switzerland and
border area between Switzerland and
border area between Switzerland and Italy in fact her tour follows exact
Italy in fact her tour follows exact
Italy in fact her tour follows exact almost exactly the pink line that is the
almost exactly the pink line that is the
almost exactly the pink line that is the border between these two countries the
border between these two countries the
border between these two countries the triangles are our summits and the little
triangles are our summits and the little
triangles are our summits and the little red lines going down where we went down
red lines going down where we went down
red lines going down where we went down at night to recuperate and rest in huts
at night to recuperate and rest in huts
at night to recuperate and rest in huts I want to tell you about the third day
I want to tell you about the third day
I want to tell you about the third day we climbed the leaf scam and on the
we climbed the leaf scam and on the
we climbed the leaf scam and on the final day where we climbed the highest
final day where we climbed the highest
final day where we climbed the highest peaks of our tour including the
peaks of our tour including the
peaks of our tour including the dufourspitze standing at four thousand
dufourspitze standing at four thousand
dufourspitze standing at four thousand six hundred and thirty-four meters the
six hundred and thirty-four meters the
six hundred and thirty-four meters the Lea scam is a long thin mountain with
Lea scam is a long thin mountain with
Lea scam is a long thin mountain with two summits and the tour just goes over
two summits and the tour just goes over
two summits and the tour just goes over that knife edge thin ridge for about
that knife edge thin ridge for about
that knife edge thin ridge for about five kilometers we started walking and I
five kilometers we started walking and I
five kilometers we started walking and I was walking and I was thinking whew this
was walking and I was thinking whew this
was walking and I was thinking whew this is a big thing it’s too difficult I’m so
is a big thing it’s too difficult I’m so
is a big thing it’s too difficult I’m so tired already I just want to lie down
tired already I just want to lie down
tired already I just want to lie down and I started to panic and my heart rate
and I started to panic and my heart rate
and I started to panic and my heart rate increased and I thought forget about the
increased and I thought forget about the
increased and I thought forget about the summit just take a step and I started to
summit just take a step and I started to
summit just take a step and I started to sing because singing helps me to keep to
sing because singing helps me to keep to
sing because singing helps me to keep to an even rhythm yeah titi
regarding the Buddhist teaching of the
regarding the Buddhist teaching of the Heart Sutra letting go of preconceived
Heart Sutra letting go of preconceived
Heart Sutra letting go of preconceived notions and fixed ideas being open to
notions and fixed ideas being open to
notions and fixed ideas being open to the wonders of the world and we walked
the wonders of the world and we walked
the wonders of the world and we walked we walked until we came to a steep place
we walked until we came to a steep place
we walked until we came to a steep place where the walking stopped I’m freezing
where the walking stopped I’m freezing
where the walking stopped I’m freezing I’m so cold
I’m so cold
I’m so cold we’ve been walking for hours in the
we’ve been walking for hours in the
we’ve been walking for hours in the shade when all around us is Sun and
shade when all around us is Sun and
shade when all around us is Sun and dying for a ray of worming sunlight in
dying for a ray of worming sunlight in
dying for a ray of worming sunlight in front of me is an icy slope it’s about
front of me is an icy slope it’s about
front of me is an icy slope it’s about 45 degrees steep and 200 meters long the
45 degrees steep and 200 meters long the
45 degrees steep and 200 meters long the guide goes first I’m last I’m freezing
guide goes first I’m last I’m freezing
guide goes first I’m last I’m freezing but then we get to the top of that slope
but then we get to the top of that slope
but then we get to the top of that slope and I’m standing on the right the clouds
and I’m standing on the right the clouds
and I’m standing on the right the clouds on the left the Glacial landscape and
on the left the Glacial landscape and
on the left the Glacial landscape and I’m suspended in space to my left and my
I’m suspended in space to my left and my
I’m suspended in space to my left and my right a thousand meter drop and I take a
right a thousand meter drop and I take a
right a thousand meter drop and I take a step a very careful step you don’t want
step a very careful step you don’t want
step a very careful step you don’t want to slip and stumble on that Ridge
to slip and stumble on that Ridge
to slip and stumble on that Ridge we take perfect steps and we walk over
we take perfect steps and we walk over
we take perfect steps and we walk over that Ridge
that Ridge
that Ridge and down again on the final day we set
and down again on the final day we set
and down again on the final day we set out in darkness to arrive at the first
out in darkness to arrive at the first
out in darkness to arrive at the first peak at daybreak and then we crossed a
peak at daybreak and then we crossed a
peak at daybreak and then we crossed a very steep icy Ridge where I was
very steep icy Ridge where I was
very steep icy Ridge where I was properly frightened for the first time
properly frightened for the first time
properly frightened for the first time until we got to the rocks beautiful
until we got to the rocks beautiful
until we got to the rocks beautiful layers of multicolored rocks
layers of multicolored rocks
layers of multicolored rocks turned and twisted by the forces of
turned and twisted by the forces of
turned and twisted by the forces of geology into swirling patterns a work of
geology into swirling patterns a work of
geology into swirling patterns a work of art in nature and you climb over those
art in nature and you climb over those
art in nature and you climb over those rocks very careful of their final
rocks very careful of their final
rocks very careful of their final Librium over and around and through them
Librium over and around and through them
Librium over and around and through them until we reach the summit of the
until we reach the summit of the
until we reach the summit of the dufourspitze and I looked
dufourspitze and I looked
dufourspitze and I looked to the south and the West I saw the
to the south and the West I saw the
to the south and the West I saw the route that we just come from and to the
route that we just come from and to the
route that we just come from and to the north and the east
north and the east
north and the east I saw tiny valleys in green and a
I saw tiny valleys in green and a
I saw tiny valleys in green and a glacier snaking through the landscape
glacier snaking through the landscape
glacier snaking through the landscape and the mountains the Matterhorn below
and the mountains the Matterhorn below
and the mountains the Matterhorn below where I was standing now and far on the
where I was standing now and far on the
where I was standing now and far on the horizon the white cap of the mob long
horizon the white cap of the mob long
horizon the white cap of the mob long the only place in Western Europe that
the only place in Western Europe that
the only place in Western Europe that was higher than where I was standing now
was higher than where I was standing now
was higher than where I was standing now I had done it 16 4000 meter peaks
recently someone asked me why is 16
recently someone asked me why is 16 mountains I thought it’s a funny
mountains I thought it’s a funny
mountains I thought it’s a funny question but maybe you’re thinking that
question but maybe you’re thinking that
question but maybe you’re thinking that too so between the starting point and
too so between the starting point and
too so between the starting point and the finishing point there are 14 Peaks
the finishing point there are 14 Peaks
the finishing point there are 14 Peaks so you could sort of miss one out go
so you could sort of miss one out go
so you could sort of miss one out go round it or something but why would you
one thing that does irritate me is that
one thing that does irritate me is that you can’t work out exactly how many
you can’t work out exactly how many
you can’t work out exactly how many Peaks we did on average every day I’m an
Peaks we did on average every day I’m an
Peaks we did on average every day I’m an economist and 16 by 5 doesn’t go
economist and 16 by 5 doesn’t go
economist and 16 by 5 doesn’t go I have no idea you know I need a
I have no idea you know I need a
I have no idea you know I need a calculator so 15 would be better for
calculator so 15 would be better for
calculator so 15 would be better for that and it’s the other but the other
that and it’s the other but the other
that and it’s the other but the other thing you know if I was thinking
thing you know if I was thinking
thing you know if I was thinking actually you thinks it’s not enough no
actually you thinks it’s not enough no
actually you thinks it’s not enough no and it’s true at the beginning of the
and it’s true at the beginning of the
and it’s true at the beginning of the tour there is some more Peaks further
tour there is some more Peaks further
tour there is some more Peaks further down the ridge and at the end of the
down the ridge and at the end of the
down the ridge and at the end of the tour we also missed one out so you could
tour we also missed one out so you could
tour we also missed one out so you could do more but I think 16 is ok it’s enough
do more but I think 16 is ok it’s enough
do more but I think 16 is ok it’s enough but what did this trip give me reach for
but what did this trip give me reach for
but what did this trip give me reach for the stars because unless you do you
the stars because unless you do you
the stars because unless you do you don’t know what’s possible smile why
don’t know what’s possible smile why
don’t know what’s possible smile why smile because ultimately in the bigger
smile because ultimately in the bigger
smile because ultimately in the bigger picture of things whether I climb those
picture of things whether I climb those
picture of things whether I climb those 16 Peaks or not was not important I had
16 Peaks or not was not important I had
16 Peaks or not was not important I had a strong sense that the journey was my
a strong sense that the journey was my
a strong sense that the journey was my destination
destination
destination and if I didn’t make it didn’t really
and if I didn’t make it didn’t really
and if I didn’t make it didn’t really matter smile reach for the stars and
matter smile reach for the stars and
matter smile reach for the stars and take a step on the summit of the
take a step on the summit of the
take a step on the summit of the dufourspitze is a plaque commemorating
dufourspitze is a plaque commemorating
dufourspitze is a plaque commemorating the first ascent in 1855 and on that
the first ascent in 1855 and on that
the first ascent in 1855 and on that plaque is a quote by Seneca what you
plaque is a quote by Seneca what you
plaque is a quote by Seneca what you think to be the peak is nothing but a
think to be the peak is nothing but a
think to be the peak is nothing but a step just imagine what it feels like
step just imagine what it feels like
step just imagine what it feels like when you finally get up there and read
when you finally get up there and read
when you finally get up there and read that amazing my whole tour this whole
that amazing my whole tour this whole
that amazing my whole tour this whole idea had been nothing but a series of
idea had been nothing but a series of
idea had been nothing but a series of steps they began inside me rebuilding my
steps they began inside me rebuilding my
steps they began inside me rebuilding my confidence and forming a vision which I
confidence and forming a vision which I
confidence and forming a vision which I took outside of me when I told my
took outside of me when I told my
took outside of me when I told my friends about my dream and made a plan
friends about my dream and made a plan
friends about my dream and made a plan to achieve it the tour itself was a
to achieve it the tour itself was a
to achieve it the tour itself was a continuum of those steps every day I’d
continuum of those steps every day I’d
continuum of those steps every day I’d thought I can’t do this but it was just
thought I can’t do this but it was just
thought I can’t do this but it was just steps and each step was possible in
steps and each step was possible in
steps and each step was possible in itself in the continuum of life climbing
itself in the continuum of life climbing
itself in the continuum of life climbing those 16 Peaks is something I’m very
those 16 Peaks is something I’m very
those 16 Peaks is something I’m very proud of I can stand tall and whatever
proud of I can stand tall and whatever
proud of I can stand tall and whatever happens in the future nothing can ever
happens in the future nothing can ever
happens in the future nothing can ever take that away from me but that’s not
take that away from me but that’s not
take that away from me but that’s not the most important thing the most
the most important thing the most
the most important thing the most important thing I learned was another
important thing I learned was another
important thing I learned was another meaning to Senecas words that step onto
meaning to Senecas words that step onto
meaning to Senecas words that step onto the Dufour Spitzer was nothing but a
the Dufour Spitzer was nothing but a
the Dufour Spitzer was nothing but a step because as soon as I’d done it it
step because as soon as I’d done it it
step because as soon as I’d done it it was gone past and at that moment the
was gone past and at that moment the
was gone past and at that moment the next step can begin and I will keep on
next step can begin and I will keep on
next step can begin and I will keep on taking steps and see where it leads me
taking steps and see where it leads me
taking steps and see where it leads me thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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