A terminal cancer survivor known for being the only man to climb Mount Everest with one lung will soon be completing a marathon on each of the world’s 7 continents. He won the battle against Askin’s sarcoma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but one of his airbags did not.
Sean Swarner aims to raise lung cancer awareness by participating in The Great World Race next month. He will be running over 26 miles a day from Nov. 15 to Nov. 21.
“Through The Great World Race, I want to share the powerful message that lung cancer doesn’t discriminate,” Swarner said in a statement Tuesday.
He was a keynote speaker at the LUNGevity Foundation’s lung cancer awareness conference in May — the HOPE Summit. This non-profit is the primary sponsor of the marathon event Swarner will be participating in during Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
Last week, LUNGevity announced its “Anyone with Lungs Can Get Lung Cancer” campaign to bring attention to the imperative need for better screening programs, treatments and awareness.
“LUNGevity’s commitment to improving the lives of those affected by lung cancer inspires me,” Swarner said in a LinkedIn post last week.
He pointed out that the disease kills more people than breast, colon and prostate cancer combined.
LUNGevity is excited to partner with #cancersurvivor, @SeanSwarner, as he takes on #thegreatworldrace – seven consecutive marathons, on each of the continents in the world, spreading the message that #AnyoneWithLungs can get #lungcancer. https://t.co/AcJeIpr6Xn #LCAM pic.twitter.com/H7OUBYxzkh
— LUNGevity Foundation (@LUNGevity) October 29, 2024
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Swarner starred in 2018 documentary
True North: The Sean Swarner Story documented his journey to the icy cold North Pole. Completing this difficult endeavour was the final milestone he needed to finish the “Explorers Grand Slam” challenge.
To achieve this feat, one must climb both poles and the world’s seven highest summits. Swarner climbed to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro earlier this year, which is one of these.
“It’s a jaw-dropping look at how far a man will go to feel alive,” the film’s website described, “and to bring hope to millions of people touched by cancer around the world.”
rowan@mugglehead.com
