From Rock Bottom to Top of the World

We’re just back from a wonderfully inspiring evening in the company of Donegal businessman and Everest conquerer Jason Black. Recounting the details of his expedition to Everest last May, Jason kept the packed house at An Grianan Theatre captivated for  close to three hours.

We’re big fans of the stage production Tom Crean Antartic Explorer and Jason’s event tonight reminded us of a modern day version of that story. His ability to bring his experiences on the mountain to life and relate them back to everyday life was  impressive. His passion for his homeland, hometown and home county shone through and you could feel his energy lift the spirits in the room.

Like every life that’s fully lived, Jason’s tale is not without heartache. However, he is determined to use the trauma of bullying in childhood, losing his mother to cancer and the tragic death of his brother as a driving and guiding force in his life. He talks about ‘everyone having their own Everest to climb’, whether that’s suicide, depression, unemployment or financial worries. But his message is simple… ‘there is nothing that cannot be achieved’. It was a really worthwhile night.