Every year since 1977, Jerry undertakes an extreme outdoor challenge. He has scaled 1000 meter sheer ice walls, climbed high altitude Himalayan peaks, and achieved speed ascents on alpine mountains. He was pushing human endurance to the absolute limit. Then, in 2001, he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. 

Jerry is not the type of person that retreats in the face of adversity. He uses problems as a springboard to achieve, and he spends much of his time sharing his experiences with others. Some of the stories that Jerry tells are almost unbelievable, but they are all true!  He has broken his neck – twice – survived a direct lightning strike, been attacked by a Himalayan brown bear, and knocked unconscious by a rockfall on a remote peak in Russia.

Since his diagnosis in 2001 Jerry, has proved time and time again that Diabetes is NOT an excuse.

Despite being told that his climbing days were over, Jerry has continued climbing and has not let his chronic health condition affect his active outdoor life, stop him having fun with his family, or slow the development of his business. Instead, he has used his diagnosis as a motivator. This resulted in Jerry’s nomination as one of 15 Blue Circle Champions (elite athletes with Diabetes) by The International Diabetes Federation.

Every year since 2004 Jerry attempts a JIC (Jerry’s Insulin Challenge). JIC's (Jerry's Insulin Challenge) are a series of extreme mountain and road bike challenges that Jerry organises each year to raise money for impoverished children and young people with Type 1 Diabetes. Details on this page.

Jerry uses his personal goals to change the lives of others. He’s raised over €500,000 for his charity Action4Diabetes (A4D) and has become a Global Ambassador for Diabetes. As if that wasn’t enough, every year since 2004 he has organised workshops and diabetic camps to support the global diabetic community.

“I see each new problem in life not as a barrier, but as just another opportunity to learn and progress. Each new difficulty is an opportunity in disguise. The real secret is in a structured approach to keep a positive mental attitude and move forward.”

“Jerry Gore is an exceptional example of a person who has achieved excellence in mountaineering, while at the same time having Type 1 Diabetes. In addition, he has demonstrated dedication and success in helping and motivating people with diabetes in the economically developing and developed worlds!”

-Sir Chris Bonington-

Jerry has climbed on expeditions with the world’s best including Warren Hollinger, Mark Synnott, Silvo Karo, Kenton Cool, Ian Parnell, Mick Fowler, Andy Cave, Doug Scott, Twid Turner, Chris Bonington and Al Hinkes. He has been exposed to all the various types of Big Wall experiences, from fast lightweight ascents to direct lightning strikes, through to opening up whole new Big Wall playgrounds.

EXTREME ALTITUDE – 7 routes above 6,000m.  All without supplementary oxygen.

Three first ascents: Pungpa Ri (7,486m.); Manaslu North (7,154m.); S.W. Ridge Chopicalqui (6,354m.)

EXTREME BIG WALL – Sheer rock walls over 1000m. in vertical height. Jerry has climbed 20 new Big Wall routes Worldwide: Madagascar, Baffin Island, Patagonia, Borneo, Pakistan, Bugaboos, Alaska, European Alps, Greenland, Norway, Russian Pamir’s, and Yosemite.

EXTREME ALPINE – 85 alpine routes including 16 first ascents worldwide! European Alps, Canadian Rockies, Peruvian Andes, Chile, Argentina, Nepalese and Indian Himalayas, and Southern Greenland.