For Kristen Mehan of Eagle County, Colorado, the impact of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1) is deeply personal. After watching someone she loved struggle to breathe, Kristen knows firsthand the devastating impact Alpha-1 can have on families. Her father, Johan Sverdrup, died at age 55 from Alpha-1.
In his memory, Kristen chose to turn her grief into action by raising awareness and funds for the Alpha-1 Foundation. On August 14-15, 2026, she took on the extraordinary 29029 Everesting Challenge in Steamboat Springs, Colorado—a challenge that requires participants to climb 29,029 vertical feet, the equivalent of summiting Mount Everest.
One Step at a Time
To reach the goal, Kristen completed fourteen climbs to the top, taking on the challenge one step at a time in honor of her father and the Alpha-1 community.
The physical demands were immense. During the challenge, Kristen was exhausted and shared that she struggled with stomach issues for 26 of the 36 hours’ time limit, which made the challenge even harder. Because she could not eat, she relied mostly on Coca- Cola and water to keep going.
Even through those difficult moments, she continued moving forward.
Kristen thought often of her dad, especially when the challenge became hardest. Her connection to Johan gave the experience a deep personal meaning, reminding her why she had chosen to take on something so demanding.
Carrying Johan’s Hearts
Kristen found a special way to share her father’s memory with others throughout the challenge. She carried small heart chimes that she called “Johan’s Hearts” and handed one out during each lap.
As the hours passed, the hearts became more than a tribute to Johan. They became a way for Kristen to connect with and encourage other participants.
Along the way, she met people facing their own deep personal challenges, including grief, cancer recovery, and difficult moments during the event. The small hearts offered a simple reminder that they were not alone and gave Kristen an opportunity to lift the spirits of others while carrying her own father’s memory with her.
A Finish Worth Celebrating
Despite the physical difficulty of the challenge, Kristen made it to the red carpet on top of the mountain and earned her red hat, marking the completion of an incredible accomplishment.
For Kristen, the experience was about much more than reaching 29,029 vertical feet. It was about honoring Johan, raising awareness of Alpha-1, and using her experience to help others understand the impact of this rare genetic condition.
Although the challenge tested her physically and emotionally, Kristen has no regrets about taking it on. She believes her dad would be proud of her.
Continuing Johan’s Legacy
Kristen’s journey demonstrates the powerful ways members of the Alpha-1 community turn personal experiences into meaningful action. By sharing her story and raising funds, she is helping support the Alpha-1 Foundation’s mission to improve the lives of people and families affected by Alpha-1 through research, education, advocacy, and support.
Her fundraiser is still open, and donations continue to make a difference in advancing the work of the Alpha-1 Foundation.
To support Kristen’s fundraising efforts in honor of her father, Johan Sverdrup, visit her fundraising page: https://trellis.org/alpha-1-everesting-challenge-for-a-cure
The Alpha-1 Foundation is grateful to Kristen for her determination, compassion, and commitment to honoring her father’s memory. Her journey reminds us that even the hardest steps can become part of something meaningful—and that one person’s story can help inspire action for an entire community.
