With haemophilia, even to the summit of Mont Blanc?

As part of the Save One Life project, an expedition to the highest peak in Europe will take place in July this year, led by the experienced American alpinist Chris Bombardier, who is renowned as the first and only person with severe haemophilia to conquer the world's highest mountain, Mt. Everest.

Our society's nominee Daniel Šimek was also selected for the final team. Together with other expedition members representing Germany, Greece, Italy, France, and Slovenia, he will begin preparing for the subsequent ascent from 8 July this year. Daniel Šimek certainly needs no introduction. Many of you know him from haemophilia camps, currently in the role of head leader. In the past period, he also actively participated in the activities of the European Haemophilia Consortium. Thanks to his active involvement in the haemophilia community and good physical fitness, Dan was selected for the final group that will set out in early July for one of the most beautiful peaks in the entire Alps. A short profile of Dan is included at the end of this article.

The entire event will undoubtedly attract great attention -- and not only from the media. The team will also include a nurse, a doctor, a film crew, and about six high-altitude guides. Everything has been carefully prepared. A documentary will be filmed of the entire climb, mapping the entire course of the journey, and above all it is intended to be an inspiration for the entire haemophilia community. As one of the event's organisers, a father of haemophilia patients and a Save One Life volunteer, puts it: Fear of injury cannot be the main driving force in our children's lives. We are fortunate to live in the current era in terms of treatment development and availability. Information must flow into our community; doctors and haemophilia patients must be aware of the new reality. Children should not be afraid of their own dreams and should not be afraid to ride a bicycle at 14. We believe that sport no longer has to be a perceived threat. Rather, when certain rules and principles are followed, it is actually part of a successful treatment strategy. Muscular and mental development through physical activity is key.

What is the Save One Life organisation?

The Save One Life organisation was founded in 2000 by Laureen A. Kelley, author, president of LA Kelley Communications, and mother of a son with haemophilia. In 1996, Laurie began visiting developing countries to train leaders tasked with building national haemophilia foundations and securing critical donations. Two events inspired her idea that it is possible to provide direct financial assistance to people with haemophilia in developing countries.

The first event was when Lisa O'Connor, a mother of a child with haemophilia from New York, wrote to Laurie in 1999 asking whether it was possible to sponsor a child with haemophilia in another country. At the time, there was no way to do so. The second event occurred later that same year. Laurie visited Pakistan for the first time to assess leadership needs. While visiting the two-room home of a poor family in Karachi, Laurie asked how she could help them. The family had two sons with haemophilia, and the eldest was traditionally expected to support the entire family when the parents grew old. The father asked for 20 dollars a month so his eldest son, then eight years old, could attend a private school, learn English, and get a well-paying job. At that moment, the idea of founding Save One Life was born.

This idea became reality a year later. The name came to Laurie while watching the film Schindler's List, in which the proverb "he who saves one life saves the world" was quoted -- a saying found in the Talmud and the Quran. It tells us that we do not need to focus on enormous numbers and statistics that can subsequently overwhelm us. At any one moment, let us focus on helping one specific person.

Why Mont Blanc?

The ascent of Mont Blanc is an exciting endeavour. This iconic Alpine peak is achievable for novice mountaineers and at the same time revered by the most experienced climbers in the world. Chris Bombardier, Executive Director of Save One Life and the first person with haemophilia to conquer the so-called Seven Summits (the Seven Summits is a collective term for the highest mountains on each of the seven continents), will climb Mont Blanc to raise awareness of inequality in the treatment of people with bleeding disorders worldwide and to raise funds to address it.

He will be joined by eight climbers with haemophilia from various European countries. The filming of the ascent for a short documentary will be sponsored by Sobi. The resulting material will be used to spread awareness of Save One Life's mission and will highlight the stories of the climbers, including the difficulties they have overcome during their lives.

The ascent will take place on 8 July and will include a three-day training camp. Climbers will learn to navigate on a glacier, how to self-arrest in case of a fall, and will gain practical experience using crampons. Shortly after, the actual ascent will take place.

However, participation in the expedition is conditional on each team member raising EUR 4,000, which will support early diagnosis and treatment of haemophilia in fourteen developing countries where Save One Life currently operates.

What does not kill you makes you stronger

My name is Daniel Šimek, I am 23 years old. I have severe haemophilia A. I am currently studying for a master's degree at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Charles University. From an early age, I have loved all kinds of sport, especially swimming, cycling, and athletics. At first, haemophilia seemed like a major obstacle, but the older I get, the more I observe how this obstacle is shrinking thanks to proper treatment and a responsible approach, and is slowly turning into an advantage. But "proper treatment" plays a significant role and unfortunately is not taken for granted everywhere in the world, which is why I support the Save One Life project. "Our journey is not an adventure for a few lucky ones. It is a project that will affect the lives of people around the world. And I am very glad that I can be part of it," Daniel concludes.

Anyone who wants to support Daniel in his efforts can send contributions to the Czech Hemophilia Society account, no. 2109200873/2700, with "Mont Blanc" in the message, or via the QR code available here.

This amazing adventure will help improve awareness and the lives of people with bleeding disorders around the world.