Sean Swarner
Spirit of Life Award

Sean Swarner isn’t just a cancer survivor, he is truly a medical marvel. The only person in the world ever to have been diagnosed with both Hodgkin’s disease and Askin’s sarcoma, and not expected to live into his teens, Swarner defied all odds. A decade after completing treatment, and with only partial use of his lungs, he became famous for being the first cancer survivor to summit Mount Everest.

After the Everest expedition, Swarner had desire and dream to continue moving forward and reaching people and the world. Proving to others that anything is possible, Swarner also accomplished the astounding feat of summiting the highest mountain on each continent—the 7-Summits.

By showing those affected by cancer how he has conquered some of the most difficult obstacles life could offer, Swarner inspires others with the will to live and the courage to continue progressing forward.

He is the founder of the CancerClimber Association, a unique, not-for-profit organization dedicated to motivating those living with cancer by encouraging patients to inspire each other. CancerClimber challenges and facilitates cancer survivors to climb their own Everests, thus overcoming their own limitations and mental boundaries.