Robert Hill
Robert Hill was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 1994. After a long, hard battle with the disease his colon was removed to save his life. He viewed life with an ostomy* as a second chance and chose to use his experience to help others affected by the disease which is why he founded the Intestinal Disease Education and Awareness Society (I.D.E.A.S.).
Rob combined his love of life, adventure and the outdoors to start his NO GUTS KNOW GLORY! Seven Summits campaign. The Seven Summits include the highest peak on each of the seven continents and Rob feels that by “taking it to the extreme” he can show other people living with a chronic intestinal problem that their disease shouldn’t stop them from living life.
The Seven Summits campaign is a part of the I.D.E.A.S. initiative to raise awareness of intestinal diseases though education and public awareness campaigns. Together they help provide a higher quality of life for children and young adults affected by intestinal diseases.
Thus far, Rob has completed six of the seven summits, with Mount Everest as the last remaining peak to be accomplished in Spring 2010.
* An ostomy is a surgical procedure which creates an opening from the inside of the body to the outside. An ostomy creates an opening in the abdomen which allows waste to pass through into an external appliance. This procedure is used to treat complications related to Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.