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Home>Service> Awardees of Fervent Global Love of Lives Award> 12th Fervent Global Love of Lives Award 2009> The Hero without legs - Mark Inglis
Challenged the limit and got to the top without legs
      Mark Inglis, male, born on September 27, 1959 in New Zealand. In May 2006, he successfully climbed Mt. Everest (8848 meters) and became the first below-knee amputation amputee who climbed onto Mt. Everest. He often tells people "My advantage over others is that I didn't have to worry about frost burns on my feet. “ 

      Mark loved mountain climbing and he began mountain climbing when he was 12 years old. At the age of 22, he became a part of the rescue crew for Mt. Cook National Park in New Zealand. Unfortunately, during a rescue mission in November 1982, he and his crew encountered the biggest snow storm ever and they were trapped for 14 days. Before he went on the mountain he was 70 kg, after he was rescue he weighted only 39 kg. At 9am on the day he was rescued, he was amputated below both knees. That was his first challenge: no longer having fully functional legs, he had to learn to walk again and look at himself in the mirror. 

      Many gave their sympathy to Mark's situation. However, he thought, "maybe my legs are amputated, but I will not be amputated again!" That's how he learned to change his mindset; each of us must find out our own advantages. Mark said that the accident cost him his legs but it helped him to see the world in a different angle and placed more value on his life. 

      After 2 years of self-adjustment, self-improvement, Mark started again using himself as an example to others. He was a speaker for "Work Choice Day" in schools and encouraged students to find an occupation suitable for them. Next, he was elected as the ambassador of the Outward Bound project, which was a set of lessons helping the handicapped to find self-confidence. After that, he became the CEO of Marlborough First Light Foundation and encouraged young people to go abroad and explore the world. But most importantly, after Mark began "walking" forward again, he didn't forget people who needed help and he became the first sponsor of "Back-up New Zealand", which encouraged the handicapped in New Zealand to walk outdoors and take on different challenges. At the same time, Mark spread his love and became a sponsor for the “Khmer Foundation”, which upheld the dignity of people amputated because of wars.
      Because of his works, Mark received the "New Zealand Order of Merit" from the prime minister of New Zealand. 

      In 2007, Mark Inglis's book, "Legs on Everest", was published. In the book he expressed again and again that "force yourself to the limit, and you will have some crazy thoughts and previously unfounded desire and courage. You know you have the ability to realize a dream, and after going on many journeys to the limit, you will have more confidence for achieving your dreams and your dreams will get bigger and bigger." Mark challenged his limits and climbed Mt. Everest without legs; he helped himself and helped others. He's the "Hero without legs".