Among our many Great Comebacks^® alumni, perhaps no one has logged more miles than Seven Summits climber and Great Comebacks^® Honorary recipient and global ambassador, Rob Hill.

Since he joined our community five years ago, Rob has been around the world raising awareness and educating patients, families and caregivers as he has continued on his quest to become the first ostomate to climb the highest peaks on each of the continents (known collectively as the Seven Summits).

Less than a month after the 25th Anniversary celebration, Rob and an intrepid group of adventurers – including 2009 national award winner Tony Bell – departed for what could be considered the ultimate IBD Adventure: the trek to the base camp of Mount Everest!

This is IDEAS’ second IDB Adventures trek – the first was last September to Kilimanjaro – organized as fundraising climbs to raise awareness of intestinal disease and ostomy. This time around, the extended team is spending 12 days making the trek from Lukla to Base Camp at around 17,000 feet. That’s already higher than two of Seven Summits peaks.

After that, Rob and his support team will stay on in base camp and continue acclimatizing, in preparation for an attempt at the Everest summit, potentially sometime between mid-May and early-June.

Both Rob and Tony will be sending personal dispatches to the Great Comebacks website, while full team reports can be found on www.NoGutsKnowGlory.com, and where anyone interested in trekking with Rob can get more information on future IBD Adventures planned by IDEAS.