Welcome to a conversation with the incredible Chris Bombardier. Chris was born with a severe form of haemophilia, one of a variety of bleeding disorders affecting people around the world. Growing up in the back garden of the mountains, in the mile-high city of Denver, Colorado, Chris did not let his condition hold him back from his passions. From a young age he played baseball and threw himself into skiing, ski mountaineering, rock climbing and mountaineering.

Yet being born in a developed country with access to good healthcare doesn’t mean it's been an easy ride. Staying healthy involves a constant onslaught of infusions and regular bleeds, sometimes involving hospitalisation and always involving pain. Chris also has a needle phobia, which adds another layer of struggle when it comes to his treatment needs. Through the years he’s battled with depression which is rooted in feeling different from others, and meeting other communities of people living with bleeding disorders has helped him move past this.

Inspirationally, Chris took his love of mountaineering to new heights, quite literally, when he decided to climb all Seven Summits, starting with Kilimanjaro in 2011 and culminating in a gruelling expedition to the roof of the world, Everest, in 2019. Driving his achievements in the mountains is the singular hope to raise more awareness for others around the world who were not so fortunate in the postcode lottery; those born with bleeding disorders in countries like India and Nepal, who face the fate of misdiagnosis, disability or death due to a lack of essential healthcare and medication.

Chris tells us about the impacts of haemophilia on his life and mental health; the medical care required; his love for the outdoors and self-sufficiency; the challenges developing countries face in treatment for bleeding disorders; the greatest difficulties and joys of the Seven Summits; and how haemophilia actually helps him in the mountains. We also talk about the work of his Foundation, Save One Life, in developing countries, and what it's been like to be in a spotlight of profile from time to time. Thank you Chris for helping us learn about this. Please watch out later in 2020 for his Everest documentary, Bombardier Blood.