Cancer Survivor Sean Swarner Completes Seven Summits

September 21, 2007

Santa Rosa, CA. On June 18, 2007 at 9:30 PM, two-time cancer survivor and climber, Sean Swarner, reached the summit of 20,320-foot Denali, North America’s highest peak, thus completing his five-year goal of climbing highest peaks on each continent – or better known as the “Seven Summits.” While this apex represents a milestone in his mountaineering career, it is moreover a landmark event which celebrates hope, perseverance and life itself.

33-year-old Sean Swarner isn’t just a cancer survivor; he is truly a medical marvel. At age 13, Sean was diagnosed with advanced fourth and final stage of Hodgkin’s Disease. Doctors expected him to live for no more than three months. While Swarner miraculously overcame this illness, two-years later he was stricken a second time when a deadly golf ball-sized tumor attacked his right lung. Even after the removal of this tumor Swarner was expected to live for less than fourteen days.

Nearly fifteen years later – and operating with virtually one lung – Swarner is accomplishing feats in the mountaineering world that most climbers would never dream possible. In 2002, Swarner reached the summit of Mount Everest and began his personal quest to climb all the Seven Summits. In 2001 he founded the CancerClimber™ Association (CCA) – a unique, not-for-profit organization dedicated to inspire people touched by cancer and move them beyond limitations and boundaries of the disease that affects millions of people worldwide.

“Sean’s story inspired me so much that I signed up immediately to help him in any way that I could” explains Tom Fritz, Vice President of Marketing for Marmot. “The guy is so humble, unassuming and yet so motivated to climb” he adds. Beginning in January, 2007, Fritz sponsored Swarner’s two remaining expeditions – one to Mount Vinson (Antarctica) and one to Denali in Alaska (North America). “Sean’s message is powerful, moving and the represents the soul of ‘Marmot For Life’ and our values-based brand messaging” explains Fritz.

“When I finally reached the summit (of Denali) I was screaming, shouting and crying – all in the same moment. Imagine taking every emotion you’ve ever felt, wrapping it up into a tiny ball and then exploding it – that’s what it felt like,” explains Swarner in an interview earlier this month.
Swarner is showing no signs of slowing down either. This October he’s part of an internationally recognized cancer awareness-raising trek to Nepal called “Everest Rocks.” This cause-branded expedition, which will trek into Everest Base Camp, is another unique story of cancer survival, one that mixes mountaineering and rock music together to inspire people touched by cancer and to raise funds for the Bhaktapur Cancer Center in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Beginning in 2008 and beyond, Swarner has plotted an even greater adventure course in his life to reach the North and South Poles attempting to become the third person ever to do so starting from the coastline. This feat – on top of completing the Seven Summits – is considered the “Adventure Grand Slam” among world-class mountaineers and explorers.

Finally, Swarner’s public and motivational speaking engagements continue to raise awareness and funding for CancerClimberâ„¢ Association. This fall and winter he has speaking engagements and appearances booked at more than fifteen venues around the country. Swarner is also a quickly growing celebrity featured in magazines, newspapers and with guest appearances on television shows including CNN. Look for a ten-minute segment on Sean Swarner on ESPN’s Sport Center’s Life’s in Sports on October 7, 2007.

For more information about Swarner’s next adventures, speaking engagements and appearances visit www.SeanSwarner.com or contact Ben Metzger at 720.635.8026 or visit Marmotpro.com.

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