Alex LewisMountain

Left aligned, white SVG version of the Alex Lewis Mountain logo.

“QUADRUPLE AMPUTATION HAS BEEN THE BEST THING EVER FOR ME.”

Alex Lewis and his team are proud supporters of the Wild Wheelchairs Project.Alex Lewis and his team are proud supports and working in unison with The Alex Lewis Trust.The Alex Lewis Mountain was produced by HLA, a highly respected and award winning, London based Production Company.
The Alex Lewis Mountain Film was recognised as the Winner of London's Independent Film Festival 2023.
The Alex Lewis Mountain Film received the 2023 Official Selection Award for the 23rd Beverly Hills film festival.
AN HLA FILMS PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITHTHE WILD WHEELCHAIRS PROJECTANDTHE ALEX LEWIS TRUST'ALEX LEWIS MOUNTAIN' FEATURING ALEX LEWIS AND EMEBET ALE DIRES DIRECTED AND EDITED BY SIMON RATIGAN PRODUCED BYMIKE WELLS ORIGINAL MUSIC BY CHRIS MITCHELL CINEMATOGRAPHY BY IVAN OGILVIE SIMON RATIGAN POSTPRODUCTION BYTHE POST ARM +THE QUARRY EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS HELEN LANGRIDGE DANIEL CARTER DAVID COLLINSON SOUND DESIGNED BYTOM JOYCE DAMIAN PACE SOUND CANVAS TITLES BY SIMON TAYLORTOMATO
The cover for film. Alex Lewis is hanging off the side of a large rock, upside down whilst attached with a harness and climbing gear.

Synopsis

The Story

This epic and award winning film follows Hampshire resident and quadruple amputee Alex Lewis and Ethiopian amputee and international wheelchair basketball player Emebet Ale Dries. Alex and Emebet set out to prove to themselves, their families and the rest of the world that anything is possible by climbing Ethiopia's highest mountain using a custom built, off-road, solar-powered hand cycle.

The film takes you on a remarkable journey from the Winchester A&E department to the design and technology laboratories at the University of Southampton and then on to the thrilling and spectacular scenery of the Ethiopian Highlands. The Director is Simon Ratigan.

featuring

Alex Lewis & Emebet Ale Dires

director

Simon Ratigan

music

Chris Mitchell

genre

Documentary, Adventure

Production and funding

HLA and David Collinson

Watch Film

I found it so moving, inspirational and absolutely beautiful to watch. Alex and Emebet are just incredible people.

What an absolutely amazing film. So inspiring. And what a beautiful country

- Jenny, Hampshire.

A truly remarkable achievement by Alex and the team…….Both my friends were fairly speechless, as it was a very raw and emotional documentary

- John, Hampshire.

It was absolutely fantastic  - I left the theatre feeling very emotional. It was a beautiful film telling an amazing journey.

The audience were completely
captivated.

A wonderful documentary/film.

Totally engaging without
being sentimental.

What a fantastic film. Loved following the story from the start, the design of the bike, the problems encountered and then the most amazing climb. What a wonderful team of amazing people. Utterly loved it.

Get to know

Alex & Emebet

In 2013 Alex Lewis was just an "ordinary guy" until sepsis robbed him of all four limbs and part of his face. His attitude to this minor setback (his words!) has been truly remarkable. Alex refuses to let a lack of arms and legs get in the way of making a huge contribution to society through research, adventures and inspirational leadership. He has pioneered provision of affordable prosthetics, undertaken expeditions all over the world and is a renowned public speaker. A key motivation for Alex is a desire to be a father that his son can look up to and take inspiration from.

Emebet Ale Dires was born in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. She was run over by a truck at the age of 2, losing both legs in the process. Her mother refused to bow to suggestions that she should give Emebet away and raised her to live as full a life as possible. Emebet developed into a fiercely competitive wheelchair basketball player, representing Ethiopia on the international stage. Embet is determined to repay the faith and love of her Mother by showing that "anything is possible".

Read More
Alex Lewis Mountain Film - Alex and Emebet with their arms around each other in their climbing gear.

Take a look

Watch Trailer

Take a peek at what the film has to offer with this short trailer!

Watch Trailer

The Team

Behind the Scenes

"Climb a Mountain, build a factory, make a film".

‍In 2017 David Collinson and Alex Lewis met for a coffee and bounced around ideas for a project.  Climbing Ras Dashen, at 4,550m Ethiopia’s highest mountain, was the idea that stuck. David quickly recruited his friend Mark Chapman to provide on-the-ground logistics. Mark has lived in Ethiopia for over 20 years and has pioneered sustainable tourism through his company Tesfa Tours. Another long time friend; award winning commercials director Simon Ratigan, volunteered to film the project.

Emebet sat at the top of a mountain whilst the team help secure her climbing gear.
Alex Lewis and team sat at the top of the a mountain.

A masters student team at The University of Southampton, UK, led by Christopher Charalambous and Tom Parker, was given the task of designing and building a solar powered, off-road handcycle capable of being driven by a quadruple amputee. The student team was given oversight and guidance by a staff team of Dr Lindsay Armstrong, Prof. Clint Styles and Dr Dave Marshall. The whole project team wanted to do something in country to help the Ethiopian disabled community.

Long time aid supporter David Haskins was contacted and he coordinated efforts with a  local charity; Cheshire Foundation:Action for Inclusion (CFAI) and local school owner Ann Rispin. The fundraising effort generated by the expedition provided the finance to turn a CFAI wheelchair workshop into a production facility. CFAI also provided the contact to the local wheelchair basketball team, from which Emebet was recruited for the expedition.The A&E doctor who saved Alex’s life in 2013, Dr Geoff Watson, volunteered to come on the expedition as medical support.

Two members of the team wrapped in warm clothing, smiling and putting thumbs up to the camera.
Emebet driving in the custom built, off-road, solar-powered hand cycle on the trail to Ras Dashen.
Alex sat on the ground, with a harness and rope looking up at the final rock face before the summit.
A local crowd admiring the hand-cycle.
Group making camp on the road to Ras Dashen.
Emebet and colleague waiting on the mountainside prior to the final cilmb.
Group photo of the whole team on the top of Ras Dashen.
Three team members carrying Alex in a custom built wheelchair across a rocky field.
Group of local children smiling and running down the road as they chase Emebet in the hand-cycle.

Education and Private Screenings

Show in Schools/Clubs/Societies

If you are involved in education or a member of a club or society and think a screening of the film would be of interest for your institution we would be delighted to facilitate this - please fill out the form below and we will get back to you. Members of the team may be able to join your screening for a Q&A.

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Contact

Get in Touch

If you would like to contact the team involved with the film and the project please send a message to the following address:

wildwheelchairsproject@gmail.com
‍
Emebet is sat in the custom built, off-road, solar-powered hand cycle and a man who is also in a wheelchair hugging and smiling, surrounded by a group of local children stood next to the custom built, off-road, solar-powered hand cycle.