2002 Newsletters
Erik Wins ESPY, Heads to Air Force Base, Participates in National Book Festival
Jul 11th, 2002- Erik Weihenmayer Wins An ESPY
- He Heads to U.S. Air Force Bases In Europe On Monday
- Seventh Summit In Sight
- Erik Will Participate In The National Book Festival
Erik Weihenmayer Wins An ESPY
Amidst the glitter of the star-studded Annual ESPY Awards last night, Erik Weihenmayer won an ESPY, as Best Disabled Athlete, attributable to his dramatic climb to the top of the world in May 2001. Erik became the first blind person to stand on Everest's summit (29,035') and, in doing so, shattered the perceptions of many as to what is possible for blind and disabled athletes around the world. He was in the company of national sports heroes: Tiger Woods, Best Male Athlete; Venus Williams, Best Female Athlete; Barry Bonds, Best Major League Baseball Player; Marshall Faulk, Best NFL Player; Shaq O'Neal, Best NBA Player; Sarah Hughes, Best Olympian; Jennifer Capriati, Best Comeback Athlete.
He Heads to U.S. Air Force Bases In Europe On Monday
Next Monday, July 15, he heads for Europe to visit military personnel and their families on a 12-day goodwill tour which will take him to NATO and U.S. Air Force bases in England, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, and Italy. He will meet with and present his story to troops, visit community centers, perform rock climbing exhibitions, and sign copies of his book. Erik will interview with Air Force Network Europe and with the Stars & Stripes during his stay. Kevin Cherilla, his business associate and climbing partner, will accompany him. While at Aviano Air Base in Italy, home of the 31st Fighter Wing, Erik and Kevin will climb a nearby rock wall with a local climbing group.
Seventh Summit In Sight
Erik's climb of Carstensz Pyramid, in Irian Jaya (or Papua), his seventh continental summit, begins September 1. Because of uncertain governmental/military control of this region, compounded by an independence movement, and the difficulty of finding air shuttles into the starting point of the climb, schedules can only be estimates. After a 5-day trek out of a tropical rain forest to the highlands, the team will make a 2000' rock climb to the summit, Puncak Jaya, a fitting finale to Erik's quest to climb the Seven Summits, the highest peak on each of the seven land continents. Erik hopes to join approximately 100 elite climbers in the world who have achieved this milestone. Summit day is targeted for September 17. The Allegra-NFB 2002 Seventh Summit Expedition is sponsored by the allergy product Allegra and the National Federation of the Blind.
Erik Will Participate In The National Book Festival
On Saturday, October 12, Erik will join 60 distinguished writers at the National Book Festival on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, to celebrate the joys of reading and to promote literacy in our country. He will attend a dinner at the Library of Congress on Friday evening, with President and Mrs. Bush; and a breakfast at the White House on Saturday morning. Then, he'll expound on his book, Touch the Top of the World, before thousands of dignitaries, educational leaders, and students. The invitation was extended to Erik by First Lady Laura Bush.
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