Mark is a man who will need no introduction, he is a mountaineer, researcher, winemaker and motivational speaker - and we are thrilled to welcome him to our fundraising event on July 23, 2010 here in Ashburton.
Mark was born in Geraldine in 1959. He has had various jobs as a Search and Rescue Mountaineer (Aoraki/Mt Cook), a Research Scientist (Christchurch Hospital), a Winemaker with Montana Wines, a Businessman, Motivational speaker, and Adventurer. He lives with his wife Anne and three children in Hanmer Springs.
Inglis began work as a professional mountaineer in 1979 as a search and rescue mountaineer for Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. In November 1982, Inglis and climbing partner Philip Doole were stuck in an ice cave on Aoraki/Mount Cook for thirteen days due to an intense blizzard. The rescue of the two climbers was a major media event in New Zealand. Both men's legs became badly frost bitten while awaiting rescue. Following Inglis' rescue, both his legs were amputated below the knee.
He returned to Mt. Cook in 2002 and reached the summit successfully on January 7 of that year, after a previous attempt was thwarted by problems with his leg stumps. The summit assault in January 2002 was documented by the film No Mean Feat: The Mark Inglis Story.
He holds a degree in Human Biochemistry from Lincoln University, New Zealand, and has conducted research in Leukemia.
He is a passionate and accomplished cyclist,which saw him win a silver medal in the 1km time trial event at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
In addition to being a goodwill ambassador for the Everest Rescue Trust, Inglis has created a New Zealand based charitable trust Limbs4All. He has also created a range of sports drinks and energy gels named PeakFuel.
In 2003, Inglis received the New Zealand Order of Merit as an Officer in recognition of his services to disabled people. On September 27, 2004, he successfully climbed Cho Oyu with three others, becoming only the second double amputee to summit a mountain greater than 8,000 metres (26,000 ft) in height.
On May 15, 2006, after forty days of climbing, Inglis became the first ever double amputee to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world - achieving his childhood dream. Inglis's Everest expedition was filmed for the Discovery Channel series Everest: Beyond the Limit.
TVNZ's 'This Is Your Life' on June 5, 2007 honoured Inglis with the now infamous red book.
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