[Applause] [Music]
seeing this picture you might say to
seeing this picture you might say to yourself like what is a guy in a
yourself like what is a guy in a
yourself like what is a guy in a wheelchair doing right there and this is
wheelchair doing right there and this is
wheelchair doing right there and this is actually me last summer in Norway and
actually me last summer in Norway and
actually me last summer in Norway and I’m gonna tell you the story of how I
I’m gonna tell you the story of how I
I’m gonna tell you the story of how I ended up right there and this story
ended up right there and this story
ended up right there and this story begins when I was seven years old and
begins when I was seven years old and
begins when I was seven years old and I’m sitting in the car with my brother
I’m sitting in the car with my brother
I’m sitting in the car with my brother and my my brother’s actually in my mom
and my my brother’s actually in my mom
and my my brother’s actually in my mom and dad and going down to my
and dad and going down to my
and dad and going down to my grandparents to celebrate Christmas and
grandparents to celebrate Christmas and
grandparents to celebrate Christmas and when we’re sitting in the car I get this
when we’re sitting in the car I get this
when we’re sitting in the car I get this strange you know pain and my bottom from
strange you know pain and my bottom from
strange you know pain and my bottom from sitting down and about two months later
sitting down and about two months later
sitting down and about two months later I’m sitting there I’m in the hospital
I’m sitting there I’m in the hospital
I’m sitting there I’m in the hospital getting chemotherapy and this pain
getting chemotherapy and this pain
getting chemotherapy and this pain turned out to be cancer turned out to be
turned out to be cancer turned out to be
turned out to be cancer turned out to be a tumor the size of a fist growing in my
a tumor the size of a fist growing in my
a tumor the size of a fist growing in my lower back and after this a very tough
lower back and after this a very tough
lower back and after this a very tough year followed with chemotherapy and the
year followed with chemotherapy and the
year followed with chemotherapy and the radiation therapy and all different kind
radiation therapy and all different kind
radiation therapy and all different kind of treatments but eventually the doctors
of treatments but eventually the doctors
of treatments but eventually the doctors realized that the treatment wasn’t
realized that the treatment wasn’t
realized that the treatment wasn’t working and they had to take out the
working and they had to take out the
working and they had to take out the cancer with surgery and that surgery
cancer with surgery and that surgery
cancer with surgery and that surgery meant cutting a lot of nerves going to
meant cutting a lot of nerves going to
meant cutting a lot of nerves going to my legs and that’s why
my legs and that’s why
my legs and that’s why how many wheelchair today and after this
how many wheelchair today and after this
how many wheelchair today and after this surgery a really tough time followed it
surgery a really tough time followed it
surgery a really tough time followed it was first of all I I had to lay started
was first of all I I had to lay started
was first of all I I had to lay started still in a bed in hospital for about six
still in a bed in hospital for about six
still in a bed in hospital for about six weeks and after that I wasn’t allowed to
weeks and after that I wasn’t allowed to
weeks and after that I wasn’t allowed to sit down for an entire year but during
sit down for an entire year but during
sit down for an entire year but during this time I could still feel happiness
this time I could still feel happiness
this time I could still feel happiness and joy because I could walk a little
and joy because I could walk a little
and joy because I could walk a little bit you know I can move my legs a little
bit you know I can move my legs a little
bit you know I can move my legs a little bit I’m a bit of a fake cripple and I
bit I’m a bit of a fake cripple and I
bit I’m a bit of a fake cripple and I can walk with this with this walker and
can walk with this with this walker and
can walk with this with this walker and that made me feel you know so happy that
that made me feel you know so happy that
that made me feel you know so happy that I can walk a little bit because I had
I can walk a little bit because I had
I can walk a little bit because I had seen a lot of kids in the hospital who
seen a lot of kids in the hospital who
seen a lot of kids in the hospital who were in wheelchairs and they usually
were in wheelchairs and they usually
were in wheelchairs and they usually looked a little bit different
looked a little bit different
looked a little bit different the depressed and handicapped so I was
the depressed and handicapped so I was
the depressed and handicapped so I was really afraid of ending up in a
really afraid of ending up in a
really afraid of ending up in a wheelchair myself indeed by the end of
wheelchair myself indeed by the end of
wheelchair myself indeed by the end of this year I was I was finally allowed to
this year I was I was finally allowed to
this year I was I was finally allowed to sit down can you imagine that feeling
sit down can you imagine that feeling
sit down can you imagine that feeling like not having used your bottom for an
like not having used your bottom for an
like not having used your bottom for an entire year and all of a sudden you’re
entire year and all of a sudden you’re
entire year and all of a sudden you’re getting to sit down it was like such a
getting to sit down it was like such a
getting to sit down it was like such a nice feeling when I got to sit down
nice feeling when I got to sit down
nice feeling when I got to sit down again my mom found this you know this
again my mom found this you know this
again my mom found this you know this training camp in Gran Canaria in Spain
training camp in Gran Canaria in Spain
training camp in Gran Canaria in Spain for like disabled kids who difficult
for like disabled kids who difficult
for like disabled kids who difficult would go there you know we get a week
would go there you know we get a week
would go there you know we get a week week of Sun and some some rehab that’d
week of Sun and some some rehab that’d
week of Sun and some some rehab that’d be awesome
be awesome
be awesome so we come down and I’m walking with my
so we come down and I’m walking with my
so we come down and I’m walking with my walker towards the Buster’s taken off
walker towards the Buster’s taken off
walker towards the Buster’s taken off the hotel so I’m walking over there and
the hotel so I’m walking over there and
the hotel so I’m walking over there and then I see something by the bus that’s
then I see something by the bus that’s
then I see something by the bus that’s just as ever in my head because by the
just as ever in my head because by the
just as ever in my head because by the bus stress this woman sitting she’s in a
bus stress this woman sitting she’s in a
bus stress this woman sitting she’s in a wheelchair sitting that you know she’s
wheelchair sitting that you know she’s
wheelchair sitting that you know she’s marking everybody off and she’s happy
marking everybody off and she’s happy
marking everybody off and she’s happy and in my mind that is just error it
and in my mind that is just error it
and in my mind that is just error it doesn’t work out so I come up to her and
doesn’t work out so I come up to her and
doesn’t work out so I come up to her and say like hello my name is Erin and she
say like hello my name is Erin and she
say like hello my name is Erin and she says like hello hello my name is Pia
says like hello hello my name is Pia
says like hello hello my name is Pia we’d like the biggest smile ever so I
we’d like the biggest smile ever so I
we’d like the biggest smile ever so I get onto the bus and at the same time
get onto the bus and at the same time
get onto the bus and at the same time I’m telling myself like I’m gonna look
I’m telling myself like I’m gonna look
I’m telling myself like I’m gonna look for it through Pia she’s just faking it
for it through Pia she’s just faking it
for it through Pia she’s just faking it to make all the other disabled kids
to make all the other disabled kids
to make all the other disabled kids happy first day of camp I’m walking with
happy first day of camp I’m walking with
happy first day of camp I’m walking with my walker towards this big grass field
my walker towards this big grass field
my walker towards this big grass field where we’re gonna do a rehab so I’m
where we’re gonna do a rehab so I’m
where we’re gonna do a rehab so I’m walking down there and then I hear a
walking down there and then I hear a
walking down there and then I hear a voice behind me this has good morning
voice behind me this has good morning
voice behind me this has good morning Erin how are you doing who do you think
Erin how are you doing who do you think
Erin how are you doing who do you think it is
it is
it is of course it’s Pia and super happy today
of course it’s Pia and super happy today
of course it’s Pia and super happy today again so we talked to her for about a
again so we talked to her for about a
again so we talked to her for about a minute and then eventually she says like
minute and then eventually she says like
minute and then eventually she says like Arum you should try out my wheelchair
Arum you should try out my wheelchair
Arum you should try out my wheelchair it’s much better than a walker and you
it’s much better than a walker and you
it’s much better than a walker and you know I get super scared and a walk away
know I get super scared and a walk away
know I get super scared and a walk away as quickly as possible well yeah I guess
as quickly as possible well yeah I guess
as quickly as possible well yeah I guess it wasn’t really that quickly I mean you
it wasn’t really that quickly I mean you
it wasn’t really that quickly I mean you ever see the old person with a walker
ever see the old person with a walker
ever see the old person with a walker going fast
going fast
going fast not really heaven Pia she was smart
not really heaven Pia she was smart
not really heaven Pia she was smart you know she realized that I was really
you know she realized that I was really
you know she realized that I was really scared of the wheelchair so she’s on to
scared of the wheelchair so she’s on to
scared of the wheelchair so she’s on to me and and eventually she’s just like
me and and eventually she’s just like
me and and eventually she’s just like arum now you’re trying out my wheelchair
arum now you’re trying out my wheelchair
arum now you’re trying out my wheelchair so I you know I say to her like okay one
so I you know I say to her like okay one
so I you know I say to her like okay one minute then I want my Walker back so I
minute then I want my Walker back so I
minute then I want my Walker back so I get into her chair and I do with a few
get into her chair and I do with a few
get into her chair and I do with a few quick pushes like this and I feel like
quick pushes like this and I feel like
quick pushes like this and I feel like wow I can see that she’s happy you know
wow I can see that she’s happy you know
wow I can see that she’s happy you know cuz all of a sudden I I could roll like
cuz all of a sudden I I could roll like
cuz all of a sudden I I could roll like four times faster than I could ever walk
four times faster than I could ever walk
four times faster than I could ever walk and looking back at this moment I
and looking back at this moment I
and looking back at this moment I realized that in this moment I I made
realized that in this moment I I made
realized that in this moment I I made two decisions that would change my life
two decisions that would change my life
two decisions that would change my life forever decision number one I’m gonna
forever decision number one I’m gonna
forever decision number one I’m gonna get a wheelchair but the we sure can
get a wheelchair but the we sure can
get a wheelchair but the we sure can never make me disabled it can never make
never make me disabled it can never make
never make me disabled it can never make me handicapped because that’s all up in
me handicapped because that’s all up in
me handicapped because that’s all up in here and decision number two I’m gonna
here and decision number two I’m gonna
here and decision number two I’m gonna steal PS wheelchair this is me in my
steal PS wheelchair this is me in my
steal PS wheelchair this is me in my first chair and it was such you know
first chair and it was such you know
first chair and it was such you know happiness to be able to be free again to
happiness to be able to be free again to
happiness to be able to be free again to be able to move around them and play
be able to move around them and play
be able to move around them and play with my friends but the best thing with
with my friends but the best thing with
with my friends but the best thing with being in a wheelchair was that I can do
being in a wheelchair was that I can do
being in a wheelchair was that I can do sports again I could you know do a flat
sports again I could you know do a flat
sports again I could you know do a flat excitin play hockey and I could ceiling
excitin play hockey and I could ceiling
excitin play hockey and I could ceiling all the things that I really loved in my
all the things that I really loved in my
all the things that I really loved in my life fast forward to a few years back
life fast forward to a few years back
life fast forward to a few years back when I was 25 is like five years ago and
when I was 25 is like five years ago and
when I was 25 is like five years ago and I’m I’m in a pretty bad place in life I
I’m I’m in a pretty bad place in life I
I’m I’m in a pretty bad place in life I just had a hip replacement surgery and
just had a hip replacement surgery and
just had a hip replacement surgery and on top of that I’m broke and I’m single
on top of that I’m broke and I’m single
on top of that I’m broke and I’m single so it’s like it’s a bad place and I’m
so it’s like it’s a bad place and I’m
so it’s like it’s a bad place and I’m having coffee with my friend Joe ham and
having coffee with my friend Joe ham and
having coffee with my friend Joe ham and Joe and he’s his awesome adventure guy
Joe and he’s his awesome adventure guy
Joe and he’s his awesome adventure guy is climb Mount Everest
is climb Mount Everest
is climb Mount Everest and all kinds of different cool
and all kinds of different cool
and all kinds of different cool adventures so we’re having coffee and
adventures so we’re having coffee and
adventures so we’re having coffee and out of nowhere he tells me like Aaron
out of nowhere he tells me like Aaron
out of nowhere he tells me like Aaron you should climb a mount cavalry Kaiser
you should climb a mount cavalry Kaiser
you should climb a mount cavalry Kaiser with me the highest mountain on Sweden
with me the highest mountain on Sweden
with me the highest mountain on Sweden and you know I look at him like dude
and you know I look at him like dude
and you know I look at him like dude have you seen the wheelchair and he’s
have you seen the wheelchair and he’s
have you seen the wheelchair and he’s like come on now we’ll figure out a way
like come on now we’ll figure out a way
like come on now we’ll figure out a way and first I I say no but then he he asks
and first I I say no but then he he asks
and first I I say no but then he he asks me a question he says like Aaron what’s
me a question he says like Aaron what’s
me a question he says like Aaron what’s the worst thing that can happen if we
the worst thing that can happen if we
the worst thing that can happen if we fail and I I think about her for a while
fail and I I think about her for a while
fail and I I think about her for a while and I think like okay I’m not gonna die
and I think like okay I’m not gonna die
and I think like okay I’m not gonna die it’s not like a dangerous mountain but I
it’s not like a dangerous mountain but I
it’s not like a dangerous mountain but I could fall down and I could break an arm
could fall down and I could break an arm
could fall down and I could break an arm I’m like I’m willing to take that risk
I’m like I’m willing to take that risk
I’m like I’m willing to take that risk and climbing that mountain is one of the
and climbing that mountain is one of the
and climbing that mountain is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done you know
hardest things I’ve ever done you know
hardest things I’ve ever done you know it’s a struggle we we work really hard
it’s a struggle we we work really hard
it’s a struggle we we work really hard for 18 hours and finally getting up
for 18 hours and finally getting up
for 18 hours and finally getting up there to the top but the feeling sitting
there to the top but the feeling sitting
there to the top but the feeling sitting on the summit of Sweden looking out it’s
on the summit of Sweden looking out it’s
on the summit of Sweden looking out it’s one of one of the feelings that you know
one of one of the feelings that you know
one of one of the feelings that you know I will take with me for the rest of my
I will take with me for the rest of my
I will take with me for the rest of my life
life
life when I came home from Kebnekaise say I
when I came home from Kebnekaise say I
when I came home from Kebnekaise say I started thinking like huh if I can do
started thinking like huh if I can do
started thinking like huh if I can do this maybe I can do more adventures and
this maybe I can do more adventures and
this maybe I can do more adventures and other cool things maybe I can become a
other cool things maybe I can become a
other cool things maybe I can become a professional adventurer so I started
professional adventurer so I started
professional adventurer so I started going like crazy I climbed Kilimanjaro I
going like crazy I climbed Kilimanjaro I
going like crazy I climbed Kilimanjaro I swam from Sweden to Finland I won the 92
swam from Sweden to Finland I won the 92
swam from Sweden to Finland I won the 92 kilometer ultra race and deserts of the
kilometer ultra race and deserts of the
kilometer ultra race and deserts of the by and I started thinking hmm what is
by and I started thinking hmm what is
by and I started thinking hmm what is the what is the biggest and coolest and
the what is the biggest and coolest and
the what is the biggest and coolest and craziest adventure I could ever do and
craziest adventure I could ever do and
craziest adventure I could ever do and you know I’m from Sweden so we like the
you know I’m from Sweden so we like the
you know I’m from Sweden so we like the cold so I figured could I could I ski to
cold so I figured could I could I ski to
cold so I figured could I could I ski to the South Pole but is that possible can
the South Pole but is that possible can
the South Pole but is that possible can you do that when you’re in a wheelchair
you do that when you’re in a wheelchair
you do that when you’re in a wheelchair so I started prepping and finding
so I started prepping and finding
so I started prepping and finding sponsors and training
sponsors and training
sponsors and training building this custom egg sled and I
building this custom egg sled and I
building this custom egg sled and I figured let’s do it so me and my friend
figured let’s do it so me and my friend
figured let’s do it so me and my friend Doug we headed out on this epic
Doug we headed out on this epic
Doug we headed out on this epic adventure to ski from the edge of
adventure to ski from the edge of
adventure to ski from the edge of Antarctica all the way into the South
Antarctica all the way into the South
Antarctica all the way into the South Pole where we’re gonna skiing
Pole where we’re gonna skiing
Pole where we’re gonna skiing temperatures between minus 25 to minus
temperatures between minus 25 to minus
temperatures between minus 25 to minus 40 degrees Celsius in really really
40 degrees Celsius in really really
40 degrees Celsius in really really windy and harsh conditions sleeping a 10
windy and harsh conditions sleeping a 10
windy and harsh conditions sleeping a 10 ton ski for 10 hours a day and it was
ton ski for 10 hours a day and it was
ton ski for 10 hours a day and it was brutal I remember on day 11 of this
brutal I remember on day 11 of this
brutal I remember on day 11 of this adventure I just came into the tent you
adventure I just came into the tent you
adventure I just came into the tent you know I’m done I’ve been skiing for 10
know I’m done I’ve been skiing for 10
know I’m done I’ve been skiing for 10 hours and I’m so tired but at the same
hours and I’m so tired but at the same
hours and I’m so tired but at the same time I can’t sleep so I I pull up my
time I can’t sleep so I I pull up my
time I can’t sleep so I I pull up my phone and I start watching Top Gun
phone and I start watching Top Gun
phone and I start watching Top Gun racing talking right Tom Cruise with
racing talking right Tom Cruise with
racing talking right Tom Cruise with fighter jets so I’m watching this movie
fighter jets so I’m watching this movie
fighter jets so I’m watching this movie for about 45 minutes and during those 45
for about 45 minutes and during those 45
for about 45 minutes and during those 45 minutes I cry like 15 times
minutes I cry like 15 times
minutes I cry like 15 times you know I cry at all they’re really
you know I cry at all they’re really
you know I cry at all they’re really happy parts and I cry for all the sad
happy parts and I cry for all the sad
happy parts and I cry for all the sad parts and I like cry for everything you
parts and I like cry for everything you
parts and I like cry for everything you know and after watching for 45 minutes I
know and after watching for 45 minutes I
know and after watching for 45 minutes I say to myself like I can’t go on like
say to myself like I can’t go on like
say to myself like I can’t go on like tests how am I gonna be able to go like
tests how am I gonna be able to go like
tests how am I gonna be able to go like this for another two weeks it’s not
this for another two weeks it’s not
this for another two weeks it’s not possible but in that moment when I’m
possible but in that moment when I’m
possible but in that moment when I’m having a really tough time I pull up my
having a really tough time I pull up my
having a really tough time I pull up my secret weapon so to say I I pull up this
secret weapon so to say I I pull up this
secret weapon so to say I I pull up this picture this is a picture of me together
picture this is a picture of me together
picture this is a picture of me together with my friend the saga she’s 16 years
with my friend the saga she’s 16 years
with my friend the saga she’s 16 years old she’s like the coolest girl ever
old she’s like the coolest girl ever
old she’s like the coolest girl ever she’s full of energy she’s happy she’s
she’s full of energy she’s happy she’s
she’s full of energy she’s happy she’s she’s awesome but saga she’s fighting
she’s awesome but saga she’s fighting
she’s awesome but saga she’s fighting terminal cancer similar kind of cancer
terminal cancer similar kind of cancer
terminal cancer similar kind of cancer that I had when I was a kid and when I
that I had when I was a kid and when I
that I had when I was a kid and when I look at this picture I I say to myself
look at this picture I I say to myself
look at this picture I I say to myself like if saga can keep going if she can
like if saga can keep going if she can
like if saga can keep going if she can be this awesome girl
be this awesome girl
be this awesome girl considering what she’s going
considering what she’s going
considering what she’s going true then I can also ski a little bit
true then I can also ski a little bit
true then I can also ski a little bit more about two weeks later we finally
more about two weeks later we finally
more about two weeks later we finally came to the South Pole and it was an
came to the South Pole and it was an
came to the South Pole and it was an amazing feeling
you know they’re feeling getting they’re
you know they’re feeling getting they’re getting to shower for the first time in
getting to shower for the first time in
getting to shower for the first time in three weeks it was great but the best
three weeks it was great but the best
three weeks it was great but the best thing we’re getting there was that when
thing we’re getting there was that when
thing we’re getting there was that when coming to the South Pole I get this this
coming to the South Pole I get this this
coming to the South Pole I get this this phone call on the satellite phone from
phone call on the satellite phone from
phone call on the satellite phone from my from my team back home and they tell
my from my team back home and they tell
my from my team back home and they tell me like Aaron we managed to raise
me like Aaron we managed to raise
me like Aaron we managed to raise $800,000 for childhood cancer research
$800,000 for childhood cancer research
$800,000 for childhood cancer research so back to this picture what am i doing
so back to this picture what am i doing
so back to this picture what am i doing right there a while back I I did a
right there a while back I I did a
right there a while back I I did a speech back in Stockholm Sweden where I
speech back in Stockholm Sweden where I
speech back in Stockholm Sweden where I live and after this speech this woman
live and after this speech this woman
live and after this speech this woman comes up to me in an electric wheelchair
comes up to me in an electric wheelchair
comes up to me in an electric wheelchair and she says like Arum about a year ago
and she says like Arum about a year ago
and she says like Arum about a year ago I did something that changed my life
I did something that changed my life
I did something that changed my life completely
completely
completely I fired 50% of my friends I only kept
I fired 50% of my friends I only kept
I fired 50% of my friends I only kept the ones who were like Pia who were like
the ones who were like Pia who were like
the ones who were like Pia who were like Joanne and who were like saga people
Joanne and who were like saga people
Joanne and who were like saga people that would push me people never give me
that would push me people never give me
that would push me people never give me those small but so important purchase
those small but so important purchase
those small but so important purchase outside of my comfort zone people that
outside of my comfort zone people that
outside of my comfort zone people that will tell me that you can do this
will tell me that you can do this
will tell me that you can do this yourself and it was you know this
yourself and it was you know this
yourself and it was you know this amazing joy in her face that she said
amazing joy in her face that she said
amazing joy in her face that she said because of that today I’m independent
because of that today I’m independent
because of that today I’m independent today I’m free and I think that’s what
today I’m free and I think that’s what
today I’m free and I think that’s what my talk is about today you know we all
my talk is about today you know we all
my talk is about today you know we all in here we have different abilities were
in here we have different abilities were
in here we have different abilities were good and bad at different things but I
good and bad at different things but I
good and bad at different things but I don’t think it’s about what abilities we
don’t think it’s about what abilities we
don’t think it’s about what abilities we have in life I think it’s what we do
have in life I think it’s what we do
have in life I think it’s what we do with those abilities so make the most
with those abilities so make the most
with those abilities so make the most with what you have thank you
with what you have thank you
with what you have thank you you
”
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