Link to check out the Official Press Kit for the 10 Mountains 10 Years Doc

Click here to visit the production company website and see the:
Official Press Kit for 10 Mountains 10 Years movie,
a documentary feature film

Above the Clouds

Up....until the clouds envelope you inside of them
Catching your breathe, wiping the sweat, nearing the top..

A newness comes over you
Courage, strength redefined
Love grows by leaps and bounds

Yesterday you were high; today you're higher
So high you can reach up and touch the hand that gave you life

Find clarity
Find peace
Redefine it all

Turn and look down for a second and know..... what lies ahead is faith and hope in it all in the journey, the dream, the vision of one

"Together is ONE" is what creates victory, unity, love at the highest of Summits.

Stop for a second and breathe it all in

Cry because it's energizing
Own it.......

World Up!
The Regulars
A Trail Called Hope IV - Mt. Kilimanjaro

The Roof of Africa

The Roof of Africa

There comes a time in your life when really important decisions must be made. Some may be life altering or some may be at the moment; or some just may be life threatening. It is clear in my mind that the decision I made was all of the above. Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro has changed who I am, how I think and what I will do from now on. The day we landed in Africa I felt it. The day I stepped foot on the top of Kili I embraced it. My children are the most important to me and my decision on the “Roof” was made because of them. Just 200 feet from the highest point on the roof I had to turn back. I had reached the summit the day we landed in Africa. I knew I would do it. It ran through my body. I felt the feeling inside already. But 200 feet away from Uhuru and I couldn’t go on. My chest was on fire, I could hardly walk or talk, but I kept pushing myself in hopes I could ascend one more time. I was suffering from high altitude sickness. My fingernails were turning purple, my chest was pounding. Heck, goory details need not be discussed. I broke down in tears knowing I would not experience what my other teammates did. I had jobs to do on Uhuru. Da’ Coat for Judy, the bracelet I wore in memory of Bill, Ken’s tshirt from Focus on a Cure. I was letting all of them down. But a flash came before my eyes and it was that of my boys. I had reached my summit. For them I let go of all the feelings going on in my head of letting other’s down.

I cried so hard at this particular moment. I cried because I had done it. I cried because I missed my dear friend Bill. I cried because I didn’t want to leave my two teammates that held me up and kept me warm and encouraged me the entire climb. Jay said I inspired him. Luc thought I was brave and strong to have gone the distance. These two mean the world to me. We followed each others footsteps. We took breaks together. We encouraged one another. I can’t say enough about them. When I had to desend I asked them to do me some favors. One - place the coat on Uhuru; Two - place Ken’s tshirt on Uhuru; Three - leave Bill’s bracelet in his memory on Uhuru; Four - take pictures. In my pack was was the coat and the tshirt. They took my pack and Godsend, the guide who would lead Luc and Jay to Uhuru, took the bracelet off of my wrist. A moment in time that I will cherish. A moment that has changed me.

Luc filmed me at this particular moment. He looked out for me for five days. He was “Cardio” man. My nickname for him. He kept our heart rate in check. We had a good pace each day we climbed. He let me take off at times when my adrenalin kicked in and would be there when I would slow down. I never met Luc before Africa but the minute we shook hands and said hello for the first time an immediate connection was made. Little did I know then that he would be with me all the way. But destiny has its way and who am I to mess with that.

The day Jay told me I inspired him to come on this climb I was really honored by his words. He also told me I kept him focused as we climbed to the roof. A simple statement I made to him to use his pole then take two steps, concentrate on the pole, said got him to the top. How do you get to this point in your life when other’s look up to you? How do you become someone’s inspiration? How do you get someone to focus so they make it to the top of a mountain? I don’t know these answers. I still can’t seem to wrap my head around any of it. But it has changed me. Not the way I look, or dress, just the way I feel inside. I’m not sure it’s something I can explain or even if I did if it would make sense to other’s. All I know is that the journey to find cures has defined me and has driven me to make this a reality. I follow Enzo and my teammates as we seek to end these dreaded diseases. As we fight to be noticed and heard. As we pathe the way for the future to be clear for others. For my children, for everyone’s children. For they are our future.

I still have a lot of work to do for them and hope for a better future for them. They are every reason to keep moving ahead, to keep climbing up to the next summit, to keep seeking answers they have about why cures are not found yet. And for those in my life who fight this fight in any way shape or form everyday. There are more events to plan, more money to raise for all of you.

The Roof of Africa was beautiful. The feeling was surreal. I did it and nobody will take that from me. In everyone’s honor and everyone’s memory I did it. I kissed my mom and dad as I stood above the clouds. I waved to Bill because I just knew and felt his presence there. I said my good-bye’s to Luc and Jay and wished them luck and said that I would see them at camp. Good Luck, my guide, took my hand and we turned around and he led me back down.
A Trail Called Hope Iv - Mt. Kilimanjaro

Another One Down
World Up,
Strong Feather Eileen

And a special thank you to all of my teammates for making this possible for me as you all played a part in getting me to the top. Each one of you inspired me. I will never forget all the moments we shared in Africa. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Enzo Simone - Captain and visionary
Jennifer Yee - Producer of 10 Mountain 10 Years documentary
Jaymes Brevard
Luc Thoelen
Bill Glover
Nadyne Perlin
Lori Pulley Saviers
Eric Buzzetto
Tom Sabourin
Benny Aerts

From the Heart.......

I have a little down time right now. All the babies are sleeping and I felt the need to write. I have just 11 days before I leave for Africa. As you all know I belong to the Regulars and we are a group of altruistic individuals who have signed up with Enzo and his project, 10 mountains 10 years, to draw awareness and raise money to help eradicate Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease. With that said.....this is from my heart.......

I have been deeply affected by so many individuals this past year as I have been preparing for Kili. One especially is my dearest and sweetest friend Mary "Cherokee" Rose. She fights the toughest battle I know and still smiles and encourages everyone.My soul sister, the one who pushes me and drives me the hardest. Our dear friend Bill Berndt who lost his battle this past March who will be remembered forever for his kindness and his every chance opportunity to make you laugh. Forever in my heart. Ken Glowienke, a true role model, friend, advocate, loving husband. The day we met Ken it changed my life. I hope you know that. My dearest friend in this fight, Jim Brenner. As I sat the other night at Black Belt Camp and listened to his inspiring speech about making a difference and the ever loving and kind words he spoke about me I want to say you are my reasons I began all of this. I have always said to you for you I climb this mountain and for you I will be the one carrying your spirit with me. That "indomitable" spirit we talk so much of in Tang Soo Do. He epitomizes this in our art. He encourages and inspires everyone he comes in contact with. I was blessed the day we met and for you I continue down any path I can to help you win this battle. Judy, what can I say, I have met another who encourages the heck out of me and has undying faith and confidence that we will win. In10City to the max. I know I could make a long list of people. You all mean the world to me and not a day goes by that I am not thinking of all of you, praying for all of you and pushing the envelope for all of you.

My boys, all of my family, Sandra, Denise, Mark, Ideliza, Kaz, Rob, Mary, Maggie, Sue, Barbara, Charley, Ann, Eileen, Sylvia, Sherry, my teammates. A special thanks to my committee members who have made my fundraiser a reality....Karen, Kathy, Kathryn, Hal, Karen and Glen. Please don't be offended if I didn't mention your name. Know you are all here with me and I will bring you all with me to Africa.

Enzo and Jen.....two of the most important people in my life. Without you my confidence, drive, passion may not have ever reached the heights it is reaching.

There is nothing in life we can not do if we put our minds to it, our sights on it, and our passion and drive into it. "Together is ONE"

Please send out all of your prayers to The Regulars as we head out June 28th to the roof of Africa on our Trail Called Hope IV - Mt. Kilimananjaro.

World Up,
Strong Feather Eileen

http://www.theRegulars.org

Testing Spot - Driving - Spot

Hey, check this out. I'm just testing this little teacking device called SPOT. We'll be using it on our climb of Kilimanjaro, so you can track where we are each day. The waypoints update themselves every 10 minutes, so you can follow us all the way to the top.

Now we really can do this together!

All we have to do now is hope there is enough Satellite reception & communication to find us while we're there. BTW I know this looks a little jagged but that's because while driving, in 10 minutes I've driven quite a distance. On the mountain it will look like a more fluid line given the fact that we're not covering as much distance each 10 minutes.

World up,
Enzo

Testing Spot - Driving - Spot

Shared via AddThis

In10City - Meeting Judy Good Hensley

In10City - Judy Good Hensley

I had the pleasure of meeting a wonderful woman and spending three days with her and her beautiful family. My son David and I flew to Tennessee to meet Judy Good Hensley. She has Young Onset Parkinson's Disease. She also has the infamous "Da' Coat". When we arrived in the airport she called me and said she was in the observatory deck. My son and I exited our plane and looked up at the deck and low and behold there was Judy waving to us. David at first didn’t see her until I said look for the coat. Oh yeah! When we strolled into the baggage, Judy jumped out literally to greet us and snap our picture. I like this girl. This would be the first of hundreds of pictures the two of us would take. I want to jump ahead here to Sunday night. Judy and I sat for many hours late Sunday sharing, reading each others stories, crying, learning about one another. Being with her for three days I observed this remarkable lady. Moving through her day with Parkinson’s. Never afraid to do anything. Plowing through it all. All the while doting on me and David. She always made us feel at home with her husband and daughter. Planning our days, getting us there. I was exhausted at the end of each day. But the one thing that stands out in my mind is the love she has for everyone and everything. Right down to the tiniest butterfly she tried to capture through the lens of her camera. Her beauty for life pours over into her beautiful daughter Carol, who at only sixteen years old, is well beyond her years. Her husband Bill with his loving support and endless stories that I enjoyed immensely of his faith, his beliefs, his cross country biking. What a wonderful package these three are. They each are the glue that holds each other together.

Judy shared her disease with me. From the day she was diagnosed to the progression, the medications, explaining the medications, the procedures, the adjustments, dyskenisia, tremors. Her faith, her taking care and worrying about her mother. Her darker moments but then her moments of awakening because of the strength she has. How can you not be inspired? She wanted to know about me, my reasons for joining the Regulars, my mom, my boys, karate, my writing. I shared with her the chapter about my mom. She cried. This by far is the chapter in my life that defines me. She learned a lot about me and who I am today based on this. She understood the meaning of my nickname “Strong Feather”.

Intensity: Extreme degree of strength, force, energy, or feeling.
Judy Hensley should be under this word.
In10City: Her “E” name as the newest member of The Regulars.

It fit’s the woman who leads by example, who pushes up mountains of challenges, who never stops believing in herself and most importantly others. She is truly an inspiration on so many levels. To have been given the opportunity to meet her and speak at one of her support meetings is something I will never forget. I met wonderful people who are part of her life on this trip. A special thanks to Mayor Jane Myron and to Peggy Willocks for the kind words they spoke about me at the meeting. For allowing me to speak and to say they are the ones who inspire and I am the one who wants all of there hopes and dreams of finding a cure to come true. It was very a very surreal moment to be the one honored. I applaud everyone who deals with Parkinson’s Disease on an hour by hour basis. Who pushes others to become involved. Who creates foundations, websites for support, teams, fundraisers. I bring home with me a better understanding, a profound drive to support more and to draw more awareness. And of course a new friend, Judy Good Hensley. We stand “Together as ONE”. Oh yeah! I now have “Da Coat” and to the roof of Africa it’s going……..

World Up,
Strong Feather Eileen

Angel & the Devil

Today is Tuesday June 9th. 2009.

My wife is upstairs watching the television, and I’m down stairs in my war room listening to J.S. Bach’s “Siciliano from Violin Sonata 1", and eating a bowl of baked beans and a piece of chicken sausage for dinner. The broccoli burned while we were arguing about our current financial situation, so needless to say dinner was a little sparse tonight. Now the house smells of blackened broccoli. Yummy! Ah the glamorous lifestyle of the un-rich & un-famous suits me doesn’t it? The light coming from behind me is dim. The light bulb doesn’t really cast much light across the room but I’m used to it now. Actually I’m sort of a vamp, and I’m more comfortable typing in a dark room with just the computer screen for light. It keeps me focused on what needs to be done. In the end I suppose it’s good having everything off but the computer, being as it saves us a little money in these positively evil economic times.

Earlier today I called in my Unemployment Insurance Claim. For as much as I completely appreciate a national system which has such a fall back position built into it for it’s people, I’ve never been a fan of being a recipient of it’s benefits. I’d much rather be working. My brother Dan and I are just starting to put an engineering and architecture firm of our own together, but paying jobs are still just beyond the horizon. The ship has it’s sails up, and we’re just trying to catch enough wind to blow us toward the rising sun and better days. As my team mate Bill Glover says, “From adversity, prosperity is born.” I believe it.

I’ve been out of work since December along with so many other Americans. I remember it was just about a week after a little office birthday celebration for me. There were no hard feelings though, in being let go. Drastic measures were needed to keep the firm afloat at a time like this, and we all knew our luck could run out on any given Friday if the economy didn’t improve.

Lucky for my wife and I that at least one person in the family is bringing in a paycheck to help us get by. Economic recessions like this don’t come around very often. In the past, the architecture firms I’ve worked for have been specialized in the design of high-end homes, and the clients which normally make up this demographic could bat their lashes at hard times. You’ve got to admire them though. Their houses are absolutely beautiful, and it’s easy to see why from our perspective, they work really hard for these luxuries. In times of economic uncertainty it seemed as though they had built up an insulation to loss. Every other Joe in the country might be feeling the squeeze imposed by the times, but I always felt as if they were never quite caught up in that grip. One day if would be nice to feel a certain sense of economic security of our own. Our clients had always seemed to steam roll right over the bumps in the road which threw the rest of us for a loop or into a tail spin. Essentially what I mean to say is that in the past, even in bad times, if I was designing high-end homes in a well known and respected architecture firm, then I was always pretty secure in at least maintaining a job, but this recession was different. Everyone top to bottom, rich and poor seemed to have stopped on a dime, then were all forced to jump on it to see who would get it first.

Things are hard now, and I’d have to say that on the inside I feel a bit torn. Questions, feelings, uncertainties, they’re all different bends, and turns on this roller coaster of life.

I’m only human, and I don’t always know the “best” thing to do in times like these. Although, in the spirit of that humanity I do usually have a gut feeling about what is the “right” thing to do from a much larger perspective. My eyes were always better at seeing issues from a global perspective. But more often than not, what I feel is the “right” thing to do clashes dramatically with (just about) all the friends and family looking in at my situation. Although they all have different opinions about my life, their technique in dealing with me seems pretty consistent. They tend to have more of a slash, burn, or break his will until he can’t carry on attitude toward my charity passions. Doing something good is only good if it has no risk involved. Many have no problem in letting me know how selfish I am, and that the longer I persist in my efforts to raise awareness through my 10 Mountains - 10 Years project, the farther I would slide from favor in their eyes.

So be it. Let me slide.

Yes, I know it’s sort of sad. You’d think that the ones closest to me, who could see first hand the devastation of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease would be my strongest supporters, but most are not. Maybe they’re too close to me as the subject. Maybe I’m too much like them to make a difference. Maybe they don’t feel they could make an impression on the world, so why would I be able to do it. Maybe they’re honestly trying to save me from myself, or maybe they’re just trying to stop me from do anything they don’t have the confidence in doing themselves? I don’t’ have the answers, I can only guess.

So I reflect on the situation my wife and I are in, and together (though in parallel) we think about how we can cut down on spending so that we can ride this recession out to better days. It could be said that my wife’s philosophy is more in league with my family and friends when it comes to supporting my causes and passions. So in the process of wondering how we could begin cutting expenses, my wheels might be spinning but she’s already at the finish line holding a “Wanted Dead or Alive” poster with a Double-X and a Heart on it.
But in all seriousness, how can I blame her? I’m haven’t had a job or a real income other than unemployment checks for 6 months.

I smell the smoke, and I know the fire is in there somewhere, but my guess is it’s not just the broccoli burning in the kitchen. I know what she’s thinking. The 10 Mountains - 10 Years (A Quest for the Cure) project has got to go. The world can take care of it’s own problems for a while. I should just sit tight, take care of my own, and be content to make a simple small donation to the Alzheimer’s Association and the Michael J. Fox Foundation this year. In everyone’s mind but my own I should be raising the white flag of surrender, handing over my sword and calling it an end to my once great charity epic.

One of the things which I think is so special about our expeditions is the same thing which is making it so hard on us now. All our climbs are run out of our own pockets at our own expense. It’s quite a lesson for us all to know that nothing good in life comes for free, and this is a perfect example of it. When a person wants to join “the Regulars” it’s done with the understanding that they need to pay their own way for everything, and never to expect help or hand outs from anyone to accomplish the goals of the team. We all pay our own way so that 100% of all donations coming in from contributors can go directly to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease research. The charities call for our most sincere and altruistic efforts and that’s exactly what they get. Being one of “the Regulars” is a pretty big sacrifice to ask of people during prosperous times, but in a recession it’s a monumental sacrifice, and I extend my gratitude to all my team mates for standing along side me to try their best no matter how hard it gets.

So now imagine this. I know it’s a little Animal House-esque, but the visual helps.
I turn to the left and the devil on one shoulder says, “Just quit it, and think about yourself. Stay home. Relax. Watch TV. Sip some wine. Smell the roses. Go have a beer and grow yourself a nice gut and don’t let these things bother you. You’re not a martyr. Get your head on straight and be serious for a change. You’re no one special. You’re just a regular guy. No one would care about you if you were the one with Alzheimer’s Disease or Parkinson’s Disease.”

I stop to think, maybe this little devil’s right. Maybe no one would give a damn about me if I was the one with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s Disease. Maybe someday I am destined to become a shell of what I am now and not a soul would care.

Then I turn to the right and the angel on the other shoulder says: “How could you ever quit this project??? No matter how hard it is, you don’t quit anything...ever! You might be a Simone, but never quitting runs back in your Chadwick bloodline for more than a 1,400 years. Get your game face on you’ve got things to do rough boy.”

“Remember when you were six years old and you wanted to become a musician, then low and behold one day you grew up to hear your own music on the radio? You wanted it and you did it.”

“Remember when you were in kindergarten and loved to collect stones and wanted to become a geologist, and then you went to work for the US Geological Survey. You wanted it and you did it.”

“Remember when you were an elementary school student and you wanted to become an architect? Then, you went on to college and graduated with a degree in architecture. Well, ...it seems to me” the angel whispered, “although your curse may be that all things worthy of pursuit may feel as though they take you a thousand years to accomplish, you have done everything you said you would do...granted you were passionate to do them.”

“Which brings me to my final point”, said this little angel.
“Remember when you were young, and anything is possible? Well I shouldn’t have to remind you that the secret to life is that everything has always been possible. Sometimes people stand in your way, and other times you stand in your own way, but you always get around these obstacles. We both know that you’ll never give up on this 10 mountain epic until you’re done, until you’re dead or until the cures have been found. This is what you were born to do.”

It all brings me back to now. Sitting in a dark room with the smell of burnt broccoli in the air, with no money, no job, and running out of options on how to keep this charity project alive.

Today, tomorrow, this year, the next 7 years. How do I navigate through an ocean of time which stands as still as the Sargasso Sea? I suppose at least part of the answer is in the lessons a climber would learn in the over world.

No one will ever carry you up a mountain.

Those without the will, will never find the way.

Patience is not only a virtue it’s a necessity.

Keep moving and don’t stop.

Never look at the whole mountain, it may overwhelm and turn you to stone.

And lastly, all mountains real or metaphorical, great or small, simple or complex can only be climbed one way. One step at a time.

The lessons learned on the mountains will guide me without a doubt. I need to roll with the punches when they land on me. I need to stay waxed, so that the off color comments of those around me who don’t support my efforts will roll off like water. I need to be focused and true to my cause, and I can never give up.

The financial times are hard and although we may not share the same ideas for what is the right way or best way to get through this, together with my wife I’m sure we’ll find a way.
As for support from most of my family and friends, I can always hope for it. But until that ship comes in I’ll count on motivating myself.

People may ask, will I give up on the 10 Mountains - 10 Years (A Quest for the Cure) project?
It’s no doubt, that the answer to this always in constant battle between my heart and my mind, but the last time I looked the flag of “the Regulars” had a heart on it. There was a time before I was born when my very existence could have been in question, but in my mothers mind, even though I still had not taken my first breath and I had no name to speak of, there was never any doubt that she would “never” give up on me. Why would I give up on her?

So the people may ask again, and again, and again, will I give up on this epic?
I may be broke, and I may be hanging by my last thread, but I’m not done, there is still no cure, and I’m still breathing.

World up,
Enzo