May 29, 2021
Sean Swarner was the recipient of the Don't Ever Give Up Award
presented by the Jimmy V Foundation and ESPN in 2007. He is a
two-time cancer survivor who was first diagnosed at age 13 with
Hodgkin's Disease and later with Askin's sarcoma. He was given just
two weeks to live in 1990 and is believed to be the only person in
the world to ever have been diagnosed with both these deadly
cancers. Sean told ESPN Radio's Bob Valvano, brother of Jimmy, that
he would have been more likely to win the lottery four or five
times than to have survived both these cancers.
However, he did survive, although he has only one fully functioning
lung due to the removal of a golf ball-sized tumor found with the
Askin's diagnoses. He graduated from Willard High School in
Willard, Ohio, in 1993, and Westminster College in 1997. Sean was
featured on ESPN (July 27, 2007) with a 10-minute segment on his
life story and struggle. He established his own foundation (The
Cancer Climber Association) which promotes cancer awareness and
helps raise money for cancer research.
He also authored his book Keep Climbing, which recounts his story
and journey from the depths of his near-death experience to the
peaks he climbed to reach the top of the world 17 years later. On
October 11, 2008, Sean completed the Ford Ironman World
Championship in Kailua-Kona, HI with a final time of 11:44:15. On
May 16, 2002, Sean summited Mount Everest. Sean Swarner was
born on September 2, 1974 in Ohio, United States of America.
NEXT STEPS MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:
1. Go to seanswarner.com for more information.
2. Visit cancerclimber.org to learn more about Cancer Climber Organization and how it helps cancer research.
3. Contact Sean at sean@cancerclimber.org with any questions you may have.
TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS PODCAST:
[1:33] – Limitations.
[2:39] – Defining Moment.
[7:32] – Bookending Your Days.
[12:52] – Keep Climbing
[15:36] – Enough is Enough.
[18:38] – Finding your Everest.
[21:21] – Purpose of Understanding Core Values.
[23:51] – 7 Summits.
[28:31] – Logical versus Emotional.
[31:24] – How Can Someone Else Use Their Story to Get Where You Are?
[36:46] – Lean Into A Crushing.
[40:09] – What Should First Steps to Climb Everest Be?