Motivations - Nick Hancock's Website

MOTIVATIONS:

Discipline, Optimism, Endurance

I come from a military family, with one of my grandfathers joining as a boy soldier age 14 and serving with the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment until retirement, the other was commissioned into the army in France during the Second World War whilst working for the Post Office (BT). My mother served with the QARANC and was recalled after 13 years to serve in the first Gulf War, my father served with both the Parachute Regiment and the Queen's Own Hussars, and my great grandfather changed his name to join the army illegally aged 13, by giving a false date of birth! Being able to support Help for Heroes in their work for injured servicemen and women is hence a natural decision for me.

My 'Ickle' sister Laura has suffered from Crohn's Disease for most of her life. I have seen her endure pain and suffering, surgery and chemotherapy which would break most of us. She is an inspiration to me, and if I can help the charity associated with this disease, the NACC, then I will do all I can.

Mountaineering and Antarctic history has always held a huge interest for me. Standing head and shoulders above them all, for me, are the achievements of Sir Ernest Shackleton and Reinhold Messner. Shackleton not only for pioneering the route South to the Pole subsquently followed by Scott, but particularly for the Endurance expedition: saving all his men in the face of insurmountable obstacles. Messner, who I am privileged to have met, for his legenary mountaineering career - first to climb all the mountains over 8,000 metres, first to climb Everest solo and without oxygen, the list goes on.

Inspirational Quotes:

"Men dull in mind find no cause for wonder anywhere; they idly sit at home instead of going to see what is on view in the great theatre of the world." - Conrad Gesner (1541)

"The luxuries of civilization satisfy only those wants which they themselves create." - Apsley Cherry-Garrard

"Misfortunes rarely come singly." - Robert Falcon Scott

"Any fool can be uncomfortable." - Anon.

"You only get one shot, do not miss your chance
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime" - Eminem

"The road to success may be steep to climb, and it puts to the proof the energies of him who would reach the summit." - Samuel Smiles (1859)

"The opportunity of a lifetime must be taken in the lifetime of the opportunity" - Anon.

"Climb if you will, but remember that courage and strength are naught without prudence, and that a momentary negligence may destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Do nothing in haste; look well to each step; and from the beginning think what may be the end." - Edward Whymper

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt

I also aspire to live up to the example that my Grandfather set for me.