Inspiration for “127 Hours” Film to Speak
Aron Ralston, the climber and outdoorsman that inspired the film “127 Hours,” will speak Thursday, April 5 at 8 p.m. in Eisenhower Auditorium as a part of SPA’s Distinguished Speakers Series. Tickets are free to students with a valid Penn State photo ID beginning Thursday, March 22. Based on availability, tickets for the general public may be available for free starting Thursday, March 29. These tickets will be available at the Bryce Jordan Center Ticket Office, HUB Information Desk, Eisenhower Auditorium and Penn State Ticket Office Downtown. The topic of Ralston’s speech is “127 Hours: Between a Rock and a Hard Place.”
Ralston was descending a remote Utah canyon alone when an 800-pound boulder broke loose, crushing his right hand and pinning him against the canyon wall. After nearly five days without water and with no hope of escape, Ralston made a life-or-death decision. He chose life by severing his arm below the elbow, rappelling a 65-foot cliff out of the canyon and trekking seven miles to find his would-be rescuers.
Ralston documented his life-altering experience in the “New York Times” best-selling memoir, “Between a Rock and a Hard Place,” which has been adapted for the big screen by Danny Boyle, the Academy Award-winning director of “Slumdog Millionaire.” The film stars James Franco as Ralston, and his performance, as well as the movie, have been nominated for numerous awards.
As an inspirational speaker, Ralston moves audiences with his unforgettable story. An ordinary man pushed to the limits, Ralston demonstrates the human capacity for the extraordinary. He takes you on a riveting journey in which courage, perseverance and human will defy the inevitable outcome.
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