The Rainbow Summits -- a lesson in activism | Cason Crane | TEDxUVA

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. In a his talk about reframing our conception of success, avid climber and LGBTQ advocate Cason Crane explains how summiting the seven tallest mountains in the world changed his perspective, inspiring his fundraising and activism to prevent teen suicide. According to Crane, the achievement of summiting the mountains is relatively minor when compared to the awareness that he raised for an issue that he is so personally invested in.

An adventure-seeker and risk-taker, Cason Crane has traveled to over 70 countries on all seven continents. In his journeys he has rafted for weeks through uninhabited jungle, ridden on horseback across Mongolia, and backpacked through some of the most remote corners of the world. He is passionate about combining his loves for exploring the world and contributing to good causes.
Cason is currently climbing seven of the world's highest mountains to raise money and awareness for The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention and crisis intervention service for LGBTQ youth, in an initiative called The Rainbow Summits Project. In the past, he has volunteered at orphanages in China and Ethiopia, worked in a drug rehabilitation center in Thailand, helped to mitigate human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka, and sought to bring alternative energy to Haiti. He has also interned for various Middle Eastern non-profits, namely the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) and Shatil – An Initiative of the New Israel Fund (NIF).
In addition to instilling in him a love of travel, his parents encouraged him to pursue his athletic goals and love of the outdoors from a young age. He participates competitively in a number of sports, including running, swimming, triathlon, and mountain climbing. He graduated cum laude from Choate Rosemary Hall in 2011 and was awarded the School Seal Prize, the highest honor given to a graduating senior. He will join the Princeton University Class of 2017, where he hopes to study International Relations and Arabic.


About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)