[nfb-talk] Fw:] News Release: -- Erik Weihenmayer

[Beth Wright]

----- Original Message -----  PM
Subject:] News Release: September 19, 2006 -- Erik Weihenmayer


  BlindSight Plays to Standing Ovations at Toronto Film Festival
      Erik Finally Reaches Kenya's Twin Summits 
      Mountain Hardwear Tour:  Knoxville,  Greensboro,  Charlottesville

      Erik and Charley Mace on the summit of Mt. Kenya  
     
      BlindSight Received With Excitement in Toronto

      BlindSight --  the documentary of Erik's climb with six blind Tibetan teenagers from the Braille Without Borders school founded by Sabriye Tenberken (www.braillewithoutborders.org) --  played to full houses and long standing ovations at its three public screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival.

      First,  it was a great tribute for BlindSight,  produced by Sybil Robson Orr,  to be accepted into the TIFF,  because Toronto is one of the top four festivals in the world where new films find their distribution outlets (352 films,  91% premieres,  23 screens).  An early buzz already surrounded the film upon our arrival,  prompted by its several mentions in the press as one of the festival films to watch.  Excitement mounted as phone calls to Sybil and her team from media and possible buyers continued non-stop.  So as Sabriye and Erik and the production team filed into a packed Varsity Theater last Monday afternoon,  stomachs were queasy with anticipation over how the first public audience would greet this screening.  The theater darkened,  and we were underway.  

      Some good early signs:  patrons were clearly emotionally engulfed in the stories of the teenagers,  who had been brought to the school from remote mountain villages by Sabriye at early ages,  when they had little chance at meaningful lives. But they were educated in three languages,  taught Braille and the  computer,  and now were moving with Erik and seven of his Everest teammates up the northside of Everest itself.  Smiles followed tears....and no one budged from their seats.  And then,  it was over,  and the audience erupted in applause,  and soon they were all standing,  and the cheering continued for several minutes.  The first review:  "Blindsight premiered today at the Varsity theatres, garnering possibly the loudest and longest applause of any Real to Reel film so far at the festival....Filled with emotion, struggle, triumph and a rousing rendition of "Happy Together",  Blindsight instantly became a festival favorite."   Steven Haft,  veteran Hollywood moviemaker,  including Dead Poets Society,  and the executive producer of BlindSight,  commented that it was one of the few lengthy standing ovations he has seen at film festivals.

      I will not ruin the ending of BlindSight by telling you the whole story,  but here is a report on the six young people who once had bleak futures.  Kyila has been to school in England for a year and she is now back in Lhasa helping to run Braille Without Borders;  Gyenzen has started his own Braille printing business;  Tashi is running the largest massage business operated by the blind in Lhasa,  helped by several others;  and Sonam Bhumtso plans to go to college and become a translator.

      We expect BlindSight to help raise needed funds for Braille Without Borders,  which is operated by Sabriye and her partner Paul Kronenberg.  They have recently started a farm outside of Lhasa which is teaching vocational skills to many blind people in Tibet,  and which generates income for the school.  One product,  organic cheese,  is even sold in delicacy shops in Lhasa.  And a training center,  which will train blind people to replicate Lhasa-type schools throughout the developing world,  will open soon in Kerula,  India.  Anyone interested in supporting this amazing venture should contact Erik or Ed for guidance. The impact for dollars spent is the highest we've ever seen.
       
      Back to Mt. Kenya to Claim a Summit Missed in 2005

      Turned away by an ice storm 1000' from the summit in August 2005,  Erik and Charley Mace returned to Mt. Kenya several weeks ago, fortified by teammate Hans Florine,  and determined to reach Kenya's twin summits via one of the most difficult routes up the northface.  Hans,  who led Erik on The Nose of El Capitan back in 1996,  holds the speed climbing record on that face,  so he was a huge asset.  After trekking 2 days to Shipton's Hut at 14,000',  the team had to wait out a 3-day snow storm.  Eventually the weather broke,  the iced ropes thawed,  and under a bright sun they moved 2000' up the northeast pillar to Nelion,  at 17,020'.  They had begun at 5:30 a.m.,  reached the top at 10:00 p.m.,  soaked from the melting ice and snow.  They slept together in an existing hut the size of a coffin,  uncomfortable but at least marginally warmer.  Waiting until the sun spread its morning warmth,  they then rapelled down 300' to The Gates of the Mist,  traversed across a knife-edge ridge,  and then climbed two pitches to Bation,  at 17,057',  followed by very convoluted rapel back down.  With 3 days still remaining -- surprise, surprise -- they found 3 more faces to climb before finally calling it quits and coming home.  

      Mountain Hardwear Tour Next Week

      Erik will be speaking next week at events open to the public in Knoxville,  Greensboro,  and Charlottesville under the sponsorship of Mountain Hardwear and Blue Ridge Mountain Sports:

      Monday,  September 25,  7:00 p.m.      Carolyn Brown Center,  University of Tennesee,  Knoxville
      Tuesday,  September 26,  7:00 p.m.     Dana Auditorium,  Guilford College,  Greensboro
      Wednesday, September 27, 7:00 p.m.  Martin Luther King Center for Performoing Arts,  Charlottesville

      Please contact the local Blue Ridge Mountain Sports store if you wish to attend:  Knoxville 865-588- 2638,  Greensboro 336-852-9196,  Charlottesville 434-977-4400 (you can buy tickets at the stores or at the event,  $3 each).   
     

      Charley Mace, Hans Florine, and Erik with Mt. Kenya completed. 


      Erik takes time for a new sport after the climb... ostrich riding.

       Go to Touch The Top Website
      www.touchthetop.com
       
     * For Erik's Corporate Events/Speaking Engagements: Leading Authorities at 202/783-0300; www.leadingauthorities.com 
      * For Books and DVDs:  Ben Witherell, 303/903-8824 or ben at touchthetop.com 
      * For All Other Matters:  Ed Weihenmayer at 904/321-1938 or ed at touchthetop.com 
      * Erik's Websites www.touchthetop.com and www.climbingblind.org 
     
-------------- next part --------------
 
----- Original Message -----  PM
Subject:
] News Release: September 19, 2006 -- Erik Weihenmayer
 
BlindSight
Plays to Standing Ovations at Toronto Film Festival
Erik Finally Reaches Kenya's Twin Summits
Mountain Hardwear Tour:  Knoxville,  Greensboro,  Charlottesville
cid:094e01c6dd21$a8f84520$6400a8c0 at HIGHSIGHTS
Erik and Charley Mace on the summit of Mt. Kenya
 
 
BlindSight
Received With Excitement in Toronto
 
BlindSight
--  the documentary of Erik's climb with six blind Tibetan teenagers from the Braille Without Borders school founded by Sabriye Tenberken ( http://www.braillewithoutborders.org www.braillewithoutborders.org
) --  played to full houses and long standing ovations at its three public screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival.
 
First,  it was a great tribute for
BlindSight,
  produced by Sybil Robson Orr,
 
to be accepted into the TIFF,  because Toronto is one of the top four festivals in the world where new films find their distribution outlets (352 films,  91% premieres,  23 screens).  An early buzz already surrounded the film upon our arrival,  prompted by its several mentions in the press as one of the festival films to watch.  Excitement mounted as phone calls to Sybil and her team from media and possible buyers continued non-stop.  So as Sabriye and Erik and the production team filed into a packed Varsity Theater last Monday afternoon,  stomachs were queasy with anticipation over how the first public audience would greet this screening.  The theater darkened,  and we were underway. 
 
Some good early signs:  patrons were clearly emotionally engulfed in the stories of the teenagers,  who had been brought to the school from remote mountain villages by Sabriye at early ages,  when they had little chance at meaningful lives. But they were educated in three languages,  taught Braille and the  computer,  and now were moving with Erik and seven of his Everest teammates up the northside of Everest itself.  Smiles followed tears....and no one budged from their seats.  And then,  it was over,  and the audience erupted in applause,  and soon they were all standing,  and the cheering continued for several minutes.  The first review:  "Blindsight premiered today at the Varsity theatres, garnering possibly the loudest and longest applause of any Real to Reel film so far at the festival....Filled with emotion, struggle, triumph and a rousing rendition of "Happy Together",  Blindsight instantly became a festival favorite."   Steven Haft,  veteran Hollywood moviemaker,  including 
Dead Poets Society, 
and the executive producer of
BlindSight,
  commented that it was one of the few lengthy standing ovations he has seen at film festivals.
 
I will not ruin the ending of
BlindSight
 by telling you the whole story,  but here is a report on the six young people who once had bleak futures.  Kyila has been to school in England for a year and she is now back in Lhasa helping to run Braille Without Borders;  Gyenzen has started his own Braille printing business;  Tashi is running the largest massage business operated by the blind in Lhasa,  helped by several others;  and Sonam Bhumtso plans to go to college and become a translator.
 
We expect
BlindSight
to help raise needed funds for Braille Without Borders,  which is operated by Sabriye and her partner Paul Kronenberg.  They have recently started a farm outside of Lhasa which is teaching vocational skills to many blind people in Tibet,  and which generates income for the school.  One product,  organic cheese,  is even sold in delicacy shops in Lhasa.  And a training center,  which will train blind people to replicate Lhasa-type schools throughout the developing world,  will open soon in Kerula,  India.  Anyone interested in supporting this amazing venture should contact Erik or Ed for guidance. The impact for dollars spent is the highest we've ever seen.
 
Back to Mt. Kenya to Claim a Summit Missed in 2005
 
Turned away by an ice storm 1000' from the summit in August 2005,  Erik and Charley Mace returned to Mt. Kenya several weeks ago, fortified by teammate Hans Florine,  and determined to reach Kenya's twin summits via one of the most difficult routes up the northface.  Hans,  who led Erik on The Nose of El Capitan back in 1996,  holds the speed climbing record on that face,  so he was a huge asset.  After trekking 2 days to Shipton's Hut at 14,000',  the team had to wait out a 3-day snow storm.  Eventually the weather broke,  the iced ropes thawed,  and under a bright sun they moved 2000' up the northeast pillar to Nelion,  at 17,020'.  They had begun at 5:30 a.m.,  reached the top at 10:00 p.m.,  soaked from the melting ice and snow.  They slept together in an existing hut the size of a coffin,  uncomfortable but at least marginally warmer.  Waiting until the sun spread its morning warmth,  they then rapelled down 300' to The Gates of the Mist,  traversed across a knife-edge ridge,  and then climbed two pitches to Bation,  at 17,057',  followed by very convoluted rapel back down.  With 3 days still remaining -- surprise, surprise -- they found 3 more faces to climb before finally calling it quits and coming home. 
 
Mountain Hardwear Tour Next Week
Erik will be speaking next week at events open to the public in Knoxville,  Greensboro,  and Charlottesville under the sponsorship of Mountain Hardwear and Blue Ridge Mountain Sports:
 
Monday,  September 25,  7:00 p.m.      Carolyn Brown Center,  University of Tennesee,  Knoxville
Tuesday,  September 26,  7:00 p.m.     Dana Auditorium,  Guilford College,  Greensboro
Wednesday, September 27, 7:00 p.m.  Martin Luther King Center for Performoing Arts,  Charlottesville
 
Please contact the local Blue Ridge Mountain Sports store if you wish to attend:  Knoxville 865-588- 2638,  Greensboro 336-852-9196,  Charlottesville 434-977-4400 (you can buy tickets at the stores or at the event,  $3 each).   
 
cid:094f01c6dd21$a8f84520$6400a8c0 at HIGHSIGHTS
Charley Mace, Hans Florine, and Erik with Mt. Kenya completed.
cid:095001c6dd21$a8f84520$6400a8c0 at HIGHSIGHTS
Erik takes time for a new sport after the climb... ostrich riding.
 
http://www.touchthetop.com/ Go to Touch The Top Website
http://www.touchthetop.com/ www.touchthetop.com
 
*
For Erik's Corporate Events/Speaking Engagements: Leading Authorities at 202/783-0300; http://www.leadingauthorities.com / www.leadingauthorities.com
* For Books and DVDs: 
Ben Witherell, 303/903-8824 or mailto:ben at touchthetop.com
ben at touchthetop.com
* For All Other Matters:  Ed Weihenmayer at 904/321-1938 or mailto:ed at touchthetop.com
ed at touchthetop.com
* Erik's Websites http://www.touchthetop.com/
www.touchthetop.com
 and
http://www.climbingblind.org/ www.climbingblind.org