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Fastest time to climb the highest points in all 50 US states, David Ashley sets world record

July 3, 2024
Fastest time to climb the highest points in all 50 US states, David Ashley sets world record

Greenwich, Connecticut, United States--David Ashley, a retired Air Force Colonel and a living kidney and liver donor, and his team were sponsored by the National Kidney Registry, to summit the highest point in all 50 US states in 41 days, 21 hours and 1 minute, setting the new world record for the Fastest time to climb the highest points in all 50 US states, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

Fastest time to climb the highest points in all 50 US states, David Ashley sets world record

"David Ashley, a living kidney and liver donor, has just been acknowledged by Guinness World Records for achieving the "fastest time to climb the highest points in all 50 US states," the National Kidney Registry says. Ashley and his team began their attempt at Denali, Alaska on May 19 and concluded with a summit of Gannett Peak in Wyoming on June 30.

"His accomplishment, which was sponsored by the National Kidney Registry, saw him summit the highest point in all 50 US states in 41 days, 21 hours and 1 minute, besting the previous Guinness World Record by more than one full day.


"Ashley was joined by other living kidney donor mountaineers for many of his summits and was supported by two living donor team members who helped facilitate the detailed logistics of each summit attempt as well as travel between the high points of each state."

Fastest time to climb the highest points in all 50 US states, David Ashley sets world record

""We're so thrilled that Guinness has acknowledged this remarkable effort," said Michael Lollo, Chief Strategy Officer at the National Kidney Registry.


"Dave and his team continue to challenge themselves athletically in a big way to show that one kidney is enough and having only one will not prevent you from doing almost anything. Dave and his team did all of this to raise awareness and to normalize living kidney donation."

Fastest time to climb the highest points in all 50 US states, David Ashley sets world record

""Accomplishing this challenge is awesome in and of itself," said Ashley.


"Having it commemorated with a Guinness World Record will hopefully bring more attention to living kidney donation. We want people to realize that donating and living with one kidney in no way diminishes athletic ability."

Fastest time to climb the highest points in all 50 US states, David Ashley sets world record

"Ashley, 49, is a retired Air Force Colonel who donated his kidney to a West Point classmate in 2017. In 2020, he anonymously donated a portion of his liver to a stranger in need.


"He was previously sponsored by the National Kidney Registry when he became the first living kidney donor, living liver donor and double organ donor to climb the seven summits in 2022.


"The National Kidney Registry is dedicated to saving and improving the lives of people facing kidney failure by increasing the quality, speed, and number of living donor transplants in the United States while protecting all living kidney donors."

Fastest time to climb the highest points in all 50 US states, David Ashley sets world record

"In 2017, David donated a kidney to a West Point classmate and Army veteran and the transplant was a success for both parties. After surgery he rode the 2,500-mile Great Divide mountain bike trail from Montana to New Mexico, won the 2019 Master’s division National Championship 30-hour adventure race, and completed several ultramarathons," the Donor Games says.


"In 2020, David donated a portion of his liver to an anonymous recipient and again the surgeries were both successful. Following donation he was sponsored by NKR to become the first living kidney donor, living liver donor, and double living organ donor to climb the Seven Summits, concluding with his ascent of Mount Everest in May of 2022.


"Now retired from the US Air Force, David lives in Arlington, Virginia, with his wife and two daughters. He is currently a board member with several non-profits focused on living organ donation. David is also a frequent competitor in the Donor Games and a member of the National Kidney Donation Organization. He continues to enjoy traveling the world for new adventures and coordinates trekking groups in Nepal to Everest Base Camp."

Photos: Fastest time to climb the highest points in all 50 US states, David Ashley sets world record

(1,2,3) fastestknowntime.com

(4) livingdonorgames.org

(5) David (right) after surgery with the recipient of his donated kidney. Photo: livingdonorgames.org

(6)  livingdonorgames.org

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