AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 A.M. on May 23, 2010, The Program founder and CEO, Eric Kapitulik, stood on the summit of Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain.

To reach the summit, Eric had spent more than seven weeks acclimatizing on the mountain. He had endured weeks of cold, harsh weather, and a lack of sleep and oxygen. He had pushed himself to his physical and mental limits, losing more than 35 pounds. While climbing at 20,000 feet, he had been caught in an avalanche that killed one climber and seriously injured another.

During his ascent while attempting the summit, Eric had endured four days of almost continuous climbing in below-zero temperatures, consumed less than a few thousand calories, and barely slept. Then, it got difficult….