The Tundra Within Me

In 2017, Ed Jackson suffered a life-altering spinal injury after diving into the shallow end of a friend’s swimming pool. At just 28 years old and on the brink of a promising professional rugby career, one fleeting moment drastically changed his life as his neck shattered. While lying in intensive care, Ed was given a prognosis by his doctor that he would never walk again. However, refusing to accept this fate, he tapped into every bit of his mental strength and fought fiercely to regain his independence. Supported by his unwavering friends and family, Ed astonishingly defied medical expectations, which suggested he would remain a quadriplegic for life.

As Ed embarked on this incredible journey to recovery, he celebrated the small victories—starting from the first tiny movement in his left big toe to eventually becoming the first person with his injuries to climb Snowdon. His aspirations soared even higher as he set his sights on trekking peaks in the Himalayas. Each mountain presented unique challenges, driving him to persevere. Beyond the physical climbs, the mountains offered Ed and his wife, Lois, moments of reflection on their incredible journey and aspirations to give back. From this profound experience, they created Millimetres 2 Mountains, a charity aimed at helping others who have faced severe trauma to overcome obstacles and foster positive change.

In the film, we also meet Ben Halm, a British army sergeant whose promising career was shattered when a parachute malfunction left him plummeting 10,000 meters in just 12 seconds. The catastrophic impact resulted in a fractured spinal column, leaving him a paraplegic and forcing him to confront the reality of a life-altering injury and the loss of his cherished career. Upon discovering Millimetres 2 Mountains, Ben saw a glimmer of hope and was selected to join Ed on their next expedition—climbing the peaks of Nepal and striving to conquer Himlung Himal, towering at over 7000 meters. This climb would test both men’s physical and mental endurance while exposing the ongoing battle they face with their disabilities.

Viewers are taken along on Ed’s inspiring journey, from the exhilarating highs of his rugby rise to the heartbreaking lows of coping with sexual dysfunction and persistent pain. Along the way, the film showcases the impact that Ed and Lois’s efforts have had on others. Feeling fortunate to have been given a new opportunity, Ed is determined to encourage others to join him in his ongoing journey of recovery and rediscovery.

Last Updated: June 11, 2025 at 15:03