Steve Ferkau with a photo of his lung donor Kari
There are world-changing leaders who inspire their followers to a shining city upon a hill, and there are misguided leaders who head their followers “off a cliff.”
And then there are real-world leaders like Steve Ferkau who inspire hundreds of people to climb thousands of stairs because their hearts and minds are guided by purpose and love and the real truth about how vulnerable we all are, and how precious life really is.
This is Steve’s story. Steve is my friend, a man with an inordinate zest for life and infectious energy that simply compelled me to share his story with you. We met because we have a life-changing experience in common – an organ transplant. Steve is breathing today because he has healthy lungs from a beautiful young girl named Kari, who left our world far too soon.
Do you want to inspire people to follow you? Read this story to truly understand the enormous power of purpose and mission and vision for a leader. My hope is Steve’s words will move you and inspire you in ways you’re not expecting…
“The year started out rather crazily… On Christmas Eve I was in emergency surgery after a renegade gall stone the size of an angry, small dog (or mothball) tore through my gut… An incredible surgeon, who is scheduled to do my kidney transplant, removed my gall bladder, my appendix, 6″ of my colon, put it back together, hosed me out and sent me on my way with an awesome 10” scar up the middle of my belly!
A few weeks ago, she gave me permission to climb the Hustle Up the Hancock for the 10th time, sloooowly, and I promised I’d stop if my body says stop… And I will.
I’ve got 150 crazy people on my team, climbing with me… Among them, there are around 25 people who were classmates, teammates, grew up with, taught, coached, or knew and loved Kari… Kari’s sister & cousin are climbing with me… Kari’s mom & aunt will be here, cheering us on… #15, #12, #9, #8, #7, #4 and #2 will be in the stairwells with me… Kari was a star middle-hitter on her Algona High School volleyball team — she wore #13… Her teammates will be in the stairwells with me, and some of them are bringing their moms!! One of her coaches, and one of her teachers will be with us too… They’re all coming out from Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois to help me honor their friend and my hero…
Can you imagine what I feel like when I’m surrounded by people who grew up with, and knew and loved Kari?!?! It’s pretty amazing… They’re beautiful people — and they give me a glimpse of who Kari would have become…
I do this to tell people about Kari, and about her goodness, and about the goodness of organ donation — and we also do this for the Respiratory Health Association… They fund research in lung disease, they help people stop smoking — their work helps everyone breathe cleaner air… They help people with lung disease breathe easier…
I know what it’s like to breathe with diseased lungs, and now I know what it’s like to breathe with the most beautiful lungs in the world… One of their mottos has been, “if you can’t breathe, nothing else matters…” I’ve lived through that motto — and the RHAMC and all of these people who climb with me help other people breathe. We have a very special mission…
I know that these are not the best of financial times for many of us… If you have a couple of bucks burning a hole in your pocket, I or anyone else on my team would love a pledge… But more than anything, I’d love it if you would check out my little website and read about the beautiful girl, and all of the people surrounding her, and me, who have allowed me to leap tall buildings…
To see my Hustle page or pledge me, click here…
To see my website about Kari, go to www.ClimbingForKari.org
To find someone on my full Kari’s Klimbers team, click here…
These climbs have meant so much to me… Being surrounded by people who know and loved Kari, and by people who know and love me, is something that defies description… And the support we’ve received from people like you has allowed me to tell so many people about Kari… In the past 10 years, we’ve raised a quarter million dollars — because of people like you… Thank you…
I get to do a fair amount of public speaking, and often enough, when I walk into a room, more than one person pulls me aside and says, “You’re the one who climbs a hundred stories with your new lungs, and with your donors’ friends!!!” And often enough, they already know Kari’s smile… I am that guy, and I’m proud of that — and more than anything, I want them to know her smile.
I will have had her beautiful lungs for 12 years in April — and what she has allowed me to do is more than I’d ever dreamed possible…
And finally, and very important to me — please consider organ & tissue donation, register to be a donor on your state’s registry, and tell your family how you feel. I know a beautiful girl from Iowa who knew how she felt and she told her family — I think about her every single day.
Love, Steve”
Steve is a leader with a courageous vision, mission and above all purpose that drive him forward relentlessly, making the world a better place. I wish this for all of you as well!
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Photo is Steve Ferkau in front of the Hancock Building, with a photo of Kari.
12 Response Comments
Thank you Lisa and Steve. Amazing. Really inspires me to do more. To not give up. To make a difference. To live my mantra; “Inspire and Influence Positive Change” To really CARE. So much going on in life and distractions everywhere, what a blessing to have found this post this morning. Wow. I really needed it. Thanks again and best of luck Steve.
Al
Al, it’s a gift to me to know that it inspired you in this way. I’m so glad you found it as well. 🙂 All the very best to you as you inspire and influence positive change!
Thank you for sharing this inspiring story Lisa. Good luck to Steve and his team.
You’re welcome, Bob – thanks for letting me know it inspired you.
Thanks for sharing this Lisa, inspiring story about Steve and the team.
It makes me feel more grateful for what I am able to do because I am healthy!
Regards, Paolo.
I appreciate you sharing this, Paolo – thank you!
Lisa, thanks for sharing this. It is easy to see the personal investment and passion Steve has in this story.
Turning to leadership, this is, all too often, a counterpoint to the type of passion of leadership in businesses today. Steve’s personal passion is palpable in this story. This, I’m sure, will be a life-long endeavor for Steve.
Many of today’s leaders are passionate. They are passionate about their business. They invest themselves in it. But then they move on. They find the next opportunity. Their enduring life mission and life passion is not their business (and one could argue, it shouldn’t be).
Too often, I believe we look to create passion in people, where there is merely interest. But the kind of leadership you profile here needs to grow out of existing personal passion, not something we can create in someone later.
Great story, thank you for sharing!
Eric, thank you for your important perspective and poignant quote, “too often, I believe we look to create passion in people, where there is merely interest.” What a brilliant observation. And yes, the kind of passion that Steve exudes must come from within and becomes an enduring life mission. I guess my hope for all of us is we find this in our own lives. Thanks so much for taking the time to read Steve’s story and to share your insights, Eric!
Thank you for sharing this inspiring story Lisa.
Good luck to Steve and his team
You’re welcome, Jack – thanks for sharing your kind wishes to Steve here!
Nice infoThanks for sharing