This Man Climbed Mount Everest (But Faces a Bigger Challenge Every Day)

Climbing Mount Everest is a dream shared by many, yet achieved by few. For one climber, Rob Hill, the ascent presented more challenges than one. Hill is one of the 700,000 Americans who manages Crohn's Disease, an inflamatory disease of the gastrointestinal system. In 2010, he set out to climb the world's tallest mountain as a way to raise awareness for Crohn's -- and defy stereotypes about living with the disease.

Hill's journey is featured as part of Health Central's "Stories That Inspire Us" series, which follows patients living and thriving in the face of a range of diagnoses (ranging from psoriasis to arthritis). "We publish stories to inspire people to live better," said Jim Curtis, Remedy Health Media's Chief Revenue Officer.

The Mount Everest climb was also the culmination of Hill's "7Summits Campaign," a challenge focused on climbing the highest summit on each continent. It took Hill roughly eight years (2002 to 2010) to involved. As a way to gain awareness for the disease, Hill was inspired to climb the highest summit on each of the seven continents. Since finishing his goal, he has gone on to lead mountain climbing expeditions for intestinal disease sufferers of all ages.

Watch the video above to see Hill discuss Crohn's Disease and mountain climbing. To watch more of the "Stories That Inspire Us" series, visit Health Central's site.