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Alpha plans to climb up and down Arizona peak for 10 hours straight -- wearing his oxygen tank -- for Alpha-1 awareness, funds
PHOENIX, AZ—He’ll encounter 1.2 miles of rocky terrain, weaving trails with stair-like elevation and other hazards commonly found in the Sonoran Desert – like rattlesnakes, Gila Monsters, coyote and prickly cacti. But Aaron Robinson will climb Piestewa Peak for ten hours straight.
And, he’ll do it with an oxygen tank and 62% lung function.
Robinson used to hike this same trail at an average time of 24 minutes up, and 12 minutes down. He’d go up and down the peak two, three, even four times in one day. On his 50th birthday, he did it five times, one for each decade.
But around that time Robinson was working at charter schools putting in 12-14 hour school days. That’s when he began to notice that some of the things he used to do quickly took a bit longer. He was a little more out of breath when going up and down stairs, and it took him longer to complete his hikes.
“My physical conditioning went out the window. I had some chest pains and I kept huffing and puffing all the time,” he said.
Then, after a series of health setbacks, including a heart attack, Robinson was diagnosed with Alpha-1. He became despondent after his diagnosis. He kept asking, “why me?”
His lack of motivation began to be detrimental to his health. His body was deteriorating pretty quickly. He figured, “I have to do something. I have to change the way I’m living.”
So Robinson began walking and jogging again. He wanted to climb the peak – even if it wasn’t the same as before. His theory was, “even if you can’t do something the way you used to do it, you still go out and do it. And if you can’t, then find something you can do.”
Robinson has since climbed the peak, and it proved to be a struggle. He found it much harder on his deteriorating lungs. Now, instead of his usual 24 minutes to the top, it takes 46-50 minutes and 20 minutes down as opposed to his old 12 minute record.
But his trip up the peak on April 24 will be much different.
He wants to do something over and beyond what someone with Alpha-1 normally can do. He’ll climb the peak as many times as he can for 10 hours straight. And he’ll do this, to raise money for the school he works for and to raise money for research to find a cure for Alpha-1.
Robinson is the founder and director of two charter schools in the Phoenix area. One is Liberty Traditional School and the other is Heritage Elementary School. The schools are spread over four campuses, and have about 1300 students enrolled. He plans on giving pledge sheets to each of the students so they can help raise money for these organizations.
“I’m really trying to publicize, or bring light to, the issue of Alpha-1,” said Robinson.
Local Golden Corral restaurants at various locations (listed below) are allowing him to set up his own booth to raise awareness of Alpha-1 and advertise his Endurance Peak challenge, starting Saturday, April 4.
“I’m no different than anyone else except that over time I’ve hooked into different philosophies of life. You get to a point where you realize everyone out there has their own unique issues about themselves – either for or against us. But it’s not the issue; it’s how you work with it. You’ve got to do the best you can,” he said.
Golden Corral Locations and Dates:
April 4 – 11:00 – 4:00
420 North Dysart Road
Good Year, AZ, 85338
623-925-9075
April 4 – 10:00 – 3:00
7609 West Thomas Road
Phoenix, AZ 85035
623-848-1655
April 11 – 11:00 – 4:00
5679 West Northern Ave
Glendale, AZ 85301
623-937-0866
If you’d like to support Aaron Robinson in his Endurance Peak challenge, you can submit a donation in his honor on our website
