The Noble Spirit documentary Trailer

“A rare glimpse into one man’s battle with ALS…with the spirit to find good in every situation and embrace every day no matter the challenge we face”

Not many people would have the courage, tenacity, and long term vision to chronicle their own terminal illness. Fred invited me into his life with a no holds barred approach, and encouraged me capture every detail of his daily life.   It’s been an honor and to have complete access and a challenge to watch him struggle without interfering with events as they naturally unfolded.

Sharing the milestones of Fred’s final journey have been deeply moving. We reveled in the highs of his 75th birthday celebration at Canadian Mountain Holidays and final heli -ski run on his sit ski. We soared across the Oregon coast in tandem paragliders, rock climbed Mt. Hood, and enjoyed laps in Indy race cars at the Portland International raceway. We also silently mourned his continual losses – the last time he drove, the last meals he enjoyed with friends outside his home, and his ability to easily speak and deliver his never ending jokes. It’s a roller coaster journey, and in typical Noble spirit there was never a dull moment.

What amazes me most about Fred is his unwavering strength of spirit to not just survive, but thrive despite the obstacles. It’s made me re-evaluate how I spend my time, energy and focus. Everyone Fred encounters is challenged to rethink excuses for not seizing the day. As Fred states, “Preparing for death is one of the most empowering things you can do for yourself”. I hope the film continues to stimulate viewers to define what the Noble Spirit means to them, and how they can apply this to their everyday life.

Creating a documentary film was more difficult and rewarding than I ever imagined. It’s a team endeavor: Without the involvement of Fred’s family & friends, partnership of co-director and videographer Bob Holmes, vision of executive producer Tim Shishler to refine years of footage into a cohesive storyline, and the exceptional talent of Dane Henry to edit and provide special cinematography, this film would never have been completed. It’s a powerful story and message, one we’d like to spread to the widest audience possible.

Please visit http://thenoblespirit.org for more information about the film.