Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dean Hall. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Dean, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

In 2013, three years after the death of my wife, I was losing my battle with leukemia and lymphoma. In my mind, I had two choices: let the cancer have its way or go all-in on a big dream to prove to myself and the world that my diagnosis did not define me.

My dream? Become the first person in history to swim the entirety of the Willamette, Oregon’s longest river.

My doctors told emit was dangerous. My family told me it was crazy. Others quipped that it was impossible.

I persisted.

After months of training in a pool, I stepped into the headwaters of the Willamette and began the 187-mike journey toward the mouth of the river with nothing but a dream, the drive, and my 79-year-old father in a kayak to lead the way.
I could not forsee what would become of my cancer or myself when I started out. All I knew was that if I was going to die, I was going to do it pursuing my dream.
My “do-or-die” risk paid off! The greatest challenge of my 22-day epic adventure was not my age, or my cancer, or even completing several marathon distances every day for weeks, it was the constant hypothermia.
Little did I know that what I thought at the time to be my greatest enemy was in fact my most cherished miracle. Long before cold plunging was a fad or there was actual credible science behind it’s positive benefits, I was experiencing such a massive boost to my immune system that the first blood test I took after the swim unexpectedly and astonishing proved that my leukemia was gone.
What my doctors had feared would kill me did in fact cure me.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

What I am most well-known for is my unusual cancer recovery story and my radical remission due to extreme distance swimming. I got into this discipline rather unexpectedly.
Firstly, I was raised in the state of Oregon the second son of two mountaineers. They passed down their love of adventure and the outdoors. These demanded the ability to endure marathon endeavors. They took me with them (I climbed the tallest mountain in Oregon, Mt. Hood, at age 9) and learned early on how to persist during the rigors of any physical challenge and enjoy the great reward of a mountaintop and incredible feeling of achievement at a very early age. Endurance is quite literally, was in my DNA.
Seondly, when in 2013 I was dying from leukemia and lymphoma and faced with having to find a way to live so that my daughter wouldn’t become an orphan at age 21, I knew that following Viktor Frankl’s work found in his seminal book- “Man’s Search for Meaning” was my best bet. I knew I needed a purpose I was so deeply passionate about I was willing to die trying to accomplish it. After weeks of struggling to find such a purpose, I remembered an impossible dream I had wanted to pursue thirty years earlier: to bedome the first person in history to swim the entire 187 mile length of the Willamette River. Just thinking about it electrified me. I knew that this is what I had to do before I died.

I am most proud that I am living-proof that you are never too old, sick or tired to accomplish your dreams…and that in doing so, miracles happen!
I am also very pleased to be on the forefront of helping the world to recover the ancient and indigenous knowledge lost long ago in the effort of “progress that a deep connection with nature heals mind, body and spirit.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

At age 54, as a grieving widower who lost his wife to brain cancer 15 days before our thirteeth anniversary, and had become an active cancer patient (Leukemia and Lymphoma), I accomplished my lifelong dream of becoming the first person in history to swim the entire 187 mile length of the Willamette River in Oregon. It took 22 days of swimming in forty degree water. Often, I swam in the rain, cold, tired and wondering if anyone even cared that I was trying to accomplish what many said was impossible. I swam not one, but most days 3-5 marathon distances. I would start each day at 8 am and swim until I was going into thrombosis (or what they call “deep core throttle) hypothermia at which point I would get out and do jumping jacks and run in place on the riverbank to warm up. As soon as I was warm enough to not be in danger, I would eat as much as I could keep down and then get back in and start swimming in the icy waters. I did this all day long as long as it took me to finish the allotted distance for the day. Many times it was at least 8 hours if not 1o.
Then…I would get up the next day and do it all over again.
Many were surprised by my resilience. Many thought I would break. Most couldn’t believe I could keep going day after day. What they didn’t know, however, is that the torment of watching my wife die, the terror of waking up in the hospital being told that I had almost died or the drudgery and discouragement of spending my days in a cancer ward watching others slowly slip away made this outrageous marathon adventure not only “do-able,” but rather enjoyable.
Life has taught me firsthand that the tragic and traumatic events prepare you to accomplish great things.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

As I mentioned in my answer above, I believe the hardships of life (if and when you face them) prepare you to accomplish great things. Our broken bits create the ability to become unbreakable.

Many were surprised by my resilience. Many thought I would break. Most couldn’t believe I could keep going day after day. What they didn’t know, however, is that the torment of watching my wife die, the terror of waking up in the hospital being told that I had almost died or the drudgery and discouragement of spending my days in a cancer ward watching others slowly slip away made this outrageous marathon adventure not only “do-able,” but rather enjoyable.
Life has taught me firsthand that the tragic and traumatic events prepare you to accomplish great things.

Contact Info:

• Website: thewildcureway.com
• Instagram: deanhallofficial
• Facebook: Dean Hall
• Linkedin: Dean Hall
• Youtube: Dean Hall and The Wild Cure Way