We need more stories about those giving back to society

Such role models will help us reflect: What kind of legacy will I leave behind?

- Paul Tan

Mountaineer David Lim succumbed to a rare nerve disorder within weeks of leading Singapore's first expedition to the highest peak on the planet. He was fortunately able to rise above his disability, and his personal legacy is now less about personal achievements or accolades, and more about paying it forward, advocating for those with disabilities. PHOTO: THE BUSINESS TIMES

(THE BUSINESS TIMES)

Imagine you have led Singapore’s first expedition to the highest peak on the planet. You return home to nationwide acclaim and media attention. Everyone lauds your hard-won accomplishment and, not surprisingly, you feel invincible.

But fate, as it turns out, has a capricious face. Imagine within weeks of your triumph, you succumb to a rare nerve disorder, which sends you to hospital for six months and leads to partial paralysis in both legs. How does one navigate such circumstances?

This is essentially what mountaineer David Lim went through. Fortunately, he was able to rise above his disability and, in an admirable mixture of grit and resilience, carve a new career as an inspiring motivational speaker.

But what is equally significant about this story is how he now thinks about his challenges and his legacy. Mr Lim said in an interview: “The disability, and my coping with it, has provided a foundation in conveying to others how we can all become more resilient.”

In fact, his personal legacy is now less about personal achievements or accolades, and more about paying it forward, advocating for those with disabilities, with the intent to “create a more equal society”. In 2023, as he approached his 60th birthday, he set up a charitable fund to support disability programmes and animal welfare.