VIDEOS "myCOPD-CHALLENGE 2021"

Eberhard Jordan: myCOPD-Challenge is an awareness campaign that I founded in 2018. Back then, I went up St. Stephen's Cathedral. In 2019 it was the Danube Tower and in 2020, unfortunately, Covid-19 hit and we had to postpone it after many, many attempts. It is fundamentally about creating more awareness of the disease and more consciousness for an active approach to COPD. In 2021, it's finally the Millennium Tower's turn with its 48 floors. And I hope to climb it on World COPD Day, which is November 17th. And then we'll look over a beautiful Vienna.

Monika: In 2019, we started a COPD Challenge in Innsbruck for the first time. It was simply for everyone involved - we were 4 COPD patients - it was simply a great experience. Before that, we were in outpatient rehab for 6 weeks with Dr. Puelacher for training. Then we climbed the 283 stairs, each with a therapist, in the Bergisel Tower, and were greeted at the top with a big "Hello", which was simply moving for everyone. We plan to participate again in 2021 - in consultation with Dr. Puelacher. However, it's not yet precisely determined how we'll do this year and who will join, but that's decided, as I said, by the doctor. For 2021, we have something special planned. We were able to persuade a renowned ski jumper, Mr. Ernst Vettori, I'm allowed to mention the name, to accompany us during the Challenge. How exactly that will happen, we don't want to reveal yet, because it will be a surprise.

Eberhard Jordan: I'm particularly happy that Innsbruck is participating again this year and I hope that other rehab facilities will also get involved. It would be nice if we could really launch a movement on the topic of COPD.

Monika: Finally, I would like to thank everyone who helped us with the Challenge in 2019, and also those who will accompany and help us again in 2021, I would like to say a big thank you, also to Mr. Jordan.

Eberhard Jordan: For everyone who is interested and would like to participate, please feel free to contact me directly or via the website myCOPD-Challenge.com.

Eberhard Jordan: The development of the myCOPD-Challenge actually goes back to Jupp Brandl, who gave me the idea. He's from Cologne, and he went up Cologne Cathedral with oxygen. And back then, I thought to myself, "Okay, that's an idea, that's something that can be marketed well." And in my recklessness, I then said, "Okay, then I'll go up St. Stephen's Cathedral." My attending physician asked five times back then if I really wanted to go up there. And I said, "Yes, there's no other way. I'm going up there and that's what I'm training for." And we managed to do it. When I was standing at the top, I thought, "What's next? The Danube Tower." So pure recklessness. After we managed the Danube Tower so wonderfully two years ago, I inquired about what the next highest building is. And that's where we are now. It's the Millennium Tower.

Martin Gütlbauer: What my role is in the challenges has changed a bit over the years. So for me, at least, it was at the beginning with St. Stephen's Cathedral first of all a "Can we even get up there? Is it too far? Can we even do it?" That was a question for me. Then, when we trained together, it was about breathing rhythm. Do we do one step, two steps per breath? What's best? Where do we turn? Where do we take breaks if necessary? Should we take breaks or not? And after that it developed into, well, higher, further. Overall, I think I've become more relaxed that we'll get up there. But the question is also how.

Dr. Milos Petrovic: My name is Milos Petrovic, I'm a pulmonologist and the medical support for the myCOPD-Challenge. My task is hopefully not to have to act, and that will certainly be the case, because Eberhard is quite fit. And I'm hopeful that it will work out without me having to take any medical action.

Eberhard Jordan: What else is happening this year? Of course, this is now the start of the public campaign. Otherwise, it means training a lot, because this year was a bit mixed due to Corona and all this solo training didn't establish a rhythm like it did originally. That means I have a huge task ahead of me here. And I know that the stairs here are higher than at the Danube Tower. And it's also strenuous for the muscles.

Martin Gütlbauer: How do you train for such a challenge and, above all, where? Where can you find a staircase that isn't too small, so you can really go up several floors? Which is important to stay in rhythm. And about a year and a half ago, Eberhard found a building in the fifth district with 19 floors that you can go up. Where the rhythm can be trained well, and that's where we actually always train now.

Dr. Milos Petrovic: You have to say, with each year, we don't get any younger, regardless of the COPD. I notice it myself. Going up stairs is a little harder for me. But from year to year the challenge is always more demanding because there's always a new goal. And this year it's special in terms of the number of steps and stairs - much more than last year. And that is simply also from a health perspective, from a physical perspective, a new challenge.

Martin Gütlbauer: Eberhard is relatively well-trained, he does his workouts at home. He does that entirely without me. Now, with me, where we really train stair climbing. Well, if the basic fitness is right, it's now more a question of rhythm and also, so to speak, seeing how far we get. Yes, I would start about two or three months beforehand. If someone were less fit, then I would definitely start a little earlier. And also incorporate strength training and endurance training separately from this stair climbing training, so that the basic fitness is right.

Dr. Christoph Puelacher: For me as a doctor and for the Reha-Innsbruck, it's a matter of course that we are supporting the myCOPD-Challenge again this year. We also did that in 2019 and it's important to us that all those affected, who suffer from a higher-grade COPD, that they are properly guided through medical exercise therapy back to a place where they can participate well in both social and societal life. The message is: whoever takes their medication, whoever stops smoking and who participates in medical exercise therapy or also carries it out, can influence their disease or its course in a very, very positive way. Many people can also stop it. And that is very, very important. Many thanks to Ernst Vettori, that as a top athlete, he supports this campaign. It is very important to us that the public understands that physical training according to the medical training theory, that this is a very essential point, so that one can properly manage and stop the disease. I would also like to thank Ms. Oberndorfer, who has energetically supported the whole thing and is the very soul of this movement here.

Ernst Vettori: I support the myCOPD-Challenge because of two things: a) I want to raise awareness of this not-so-rare disease and b) because I want to motivate people to move and especially the COPD patients, who will be climbing up this take-off tower at Bergisel. As a former top athlete myself, I know what it means when you get better through regular training and thus achieve feelings of success and accomplishment thereby. So please come and support this great event. The myCOPD-Challenge will take place on November 17th at 10 a.m. here at Bergisel.

Eberhard Jordan: What else needs to be done within the scope of all the preparations? Of course, this also includes looking for sponsors and I would hope that not only Innsbruck, which I'm very happy about, that they are participating again, but that other rehab facilities will also contact us and say: "Okay, we're joining, we're interested." Or even patients simply say: "We would be interested. We don't have to go all 48 floors. We can also stop at 20." I would be happy if we get some feedback here. Yes, I hope that in November we'll be able to look over Vienna happily. Should we manage that, there is another higher building in Vienna.

Eberhard Jordan: How did I react back then to my COPD diagnosis? I think, like tens of thousands of others: I'm getting older and I should exercise and I should quit smoking. And yeah, that was pretty much it.

Prim. Doz. Dr. Arschang Valipour: COPD is a very insidious disease. It often starts very gradually. Those affected don't really notice that their lung function is silently deteriorating. And only when a significant part of lung function has been lost, does shortness of breath become noticeable in everyday life. Especially people who perhaps exert themselves a bit more in everyday life, might notice it a bit earlier. This means, if you are physically active, then you notice a restriction of lung function very early. However, if you tend to engage in sedentary activities and are not very active, then you don't notice COPD as quickly. The insidious disease also leads to those affected, once it reaches a point where a lot of lung function has been lost, to increasingly isolate themselves. Why? You're no longer as active, you can no longer participate as much in social life. And perhaps, for example, you no longer go hiking, no dancing, fewer walks with the dogs, but simply live a bit withdrawn and become a bit lazier. And over time, this leads to ending up in social isolation to a certain extent, which is, of course, terrible. And that definitely needs to be broken.

Dr. Milos Petrovic: One must be aware that in the outpatient sector many, even seriously ill patients come, where this inactivity spiral is already underway. This means, due to exertion, shortness of breath occurs. And the first thing patients do is that they exert themselves less, because they don't want to experience this uncomfortable feeling of shortness of breath. And to tell them they now have to exert themselves, even more than usual, is of course associated with increasing shortness of breath at the beginning. And many patients refuse that and are afraid. I try through gentle persuasion and also with the example of the myCOPD-Challenge to show that this is also possible. If you train regularly, if you stay active, you can break this inactivity spiral and patients then automatically become more efficient, stronger. Endurance improves and thereby shortness of breath also decreases.

Eberhard Jordan: I started training actually for a relatively simple reason: I ended up in the ICU in 2014. And my children were prepared for the fact that I would become a nursing case. And it was really like that, that I was actually accompanied by my children and friends around the corner of the house. And then I thought: "Well, I don't want to become a nursing case, and I don't want to die yet." And that's when I started with very small steps, first walking 100 meters, then walking around the block alone, going grocery shopping alone. I took up something I had already done before, because I had back problems, doing strength training at Kieser Training. And I simply worked my way up there by then walking to the bus stop. Then I skipped the first bus stop, walked to the second, until I could really walk to the gym. And then I thought: "Well, off to the Prater then." Not much can happen there, you can simply go piece by piece, piece by piece. And then you first go to the station of the "Einser-Beisl" and take the tram back. And at some point you start to get reckless and walk down to the Lusthaus.

Prim. Doz. Dr. Arschang Valipour: I think there are various reasons why COPD receives little attention among the public. Firstly, you don't see the disease, you don't see inside the lungs from the outside. Many affected individuals I've met over the years, outwardly they look completely normal, they are people like you and me. But unfortunately, their lungs are severely affected and lung function is impaired. That means you can't recognize it externally. That's one reason. The second reason is, that unfortunately, COPD patients are often blamed with a certain degree of self-blame, because smoking is a main risk factor leading to COPD, and therefore there's a bit less understanding for it, which is not justified. And the third point is, that this disease still hasn't received enough public awareness, which would be urgently necessary, so that all affected individuals and their relatives know how to avoid this disease, or if one has it, how best to treat it.

Eberhard Jordan: The myCOPD-Challenge has profoundly changed my life. Because you shouldn't imagine that it's just an event that just happens. A lot of preparatory work goes into it. And that means it's a relatively large organizational task in addition to what is already quite a packed training schedule. And this, of course, also creates publicity, this naturally also creates a demand, that people say: "Okay, press appointment here or this." This, of course, interferes with normal life, but it is necessary to even launch such an awareness campaign and to bring it to a broad audience where it makes sense.

Prim. Doz. Dr. Arschang Valipour: Breaking the isolation or withdrawal spiral of COPD is crucial. Because it's the first step to action. This shows that you can do something against the disease by being active, by participating in rehabilitation, in light physical activities. And the more you can exert yourself, the more capable you are again of participating in daily life with friends, with family, and also in social life. And it is proven that through physical activity, through training, strength training, endurance training, that survival with the disease and living with the disease is better, survival is prolonged, and also the quality of life is increased. Therefore, it is immensely important and every step truly counts for affected COPD patients, to be active, to live longer and better.

Eberhard Jordan: Yesterday, I already practiced to get up at 5 am, because that’s not the time I would normally get up. It worked well. I was up before 5 am, then I picked up my daughter and we came here to set everything up and everything was calm and there was no stress, nothing.

Mag. Thomas Tommasi: We have been following Mr. Jordan as sponsors from the beginning, since 2018, with his first challenge at the St. Stephan’s Cathedral, where he successfully mastered the first steps of this challenge. We are a pharmaceutical company doing international research. For us of course, pharmaceutical therapy plays a big role. We hope that there are a lot of followers, who can master their first small steps. And this is exactly why, if you start with small steps, keep moving, in addition to pharmaceutical treatment, it will bring about success. And this is something that you can see in countless studies. Rehabilitation also confirms this and Mr. Jordan is the best example.

Andreas Budz: We treat patients like Mr. Jordan daily and we can see how these patients live at home and what they do and Mr. Jordan is an exception to what we experience and can serve as a prime example with this challenge that he started. And we want to support this because we want to encourage other patients to follow Mr. Jordan and show “Yes, it’s possible even with COPD!”. Even if you’re limited at home and you’re not feeling well. With these small steps, just like how Mr. Jordan started, so much is possible. The oxygen that we provide helps. At the end of the day a lot depends on the patient. Even if someone does not climb the Millennium Tower, it is important to go out for a walk, to visit friends, to create a supportive social environment. It’s essential. This is the reason why we support this project.

Alexandra Gösch Wall: Boehringer Ingelheim is happy to participate as a first time sponsor. We actually wanted to participate last year, but the event was cancelled due to Covid. We are really happy about the attention that Mr. Jordan wants to raise for COPD as a topic and he also does a great job at being a role model. Because we have been doing research on respiratory diseases for 100 years we are even more delighted.

Felix Wallner: I find it really important that the event can take place especially now during COVID. It is important to me that COPD is highlighted and awareness is created around this topic. And when I see that 70% of under 30 year-olds do not know what COPD is, then it is even more important to stand here on the World-COPD-Day, and be able to talk about it and Mr. Jordan can underscore this with his achievement.

Gunnar Grässl [reads out]: Just like in many relationships, there are no universal rules, no, “This is the right way.” But this self-help book provides you with experience, thoughts, ideas and possible scenarios.

Prim. Doz. Dr. Arschang Valipour: To climb so many stairs and floors, should not be taken for granted if you have limited pulmonary function. This is why, I would also like to extend my congratulations on this big achievement and I think this can serve as a major motivation for a lot of other patients that suffer from COPD that have difficulties to stay mobile and active, and who also might have fears of going out. With this campaign and initiative, Eberhard Jordan, shows that you can live a good life even with a serious medical condition like COPD. And one must really congratulate and thank him for that.

Eberhard Jordan: Once I reached the 40th floor, I knew: Nothing can go wrong now. Yes, and getting to the top is always great. That is the moment when you know that you’ve succeeded in something that took a lot of preparation and a lot of energy. But that moment when you see the people, you realize, okay, this was something special or at least something that can also make a difference. Yes, it was good.

Matthias Franta: About one and a half years ago, Mr. Jordan contacted us because of the myCOPD-Challenge here at the Millennium Tower. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic we already had to postpone the event over for times. It makes me all the happier that we were able to stick with this date and that he was able to proceed with the challenge. It was a great feeling to watch him climb the last steps to the 48th floor.

Dr. Milos Petrovic: In terms of the number of floors, this year was the most challenging. I have to pay my respect to Eberhard because he did a brilliant job. I just want to say that not everybody with a serious condition like COPD can climb the Millennium Tower. However, exercise and pharmaceutical treatment can make you fitter and feel better so that the quality of life improves. As a pulmonary specialist, I recommend exercise and therapy, and a clear medical evaluation of the condition as well as good medical assistance. And then you will be able to do things that are important in your daily life, like going shopping and going out with your friends. It doesn’t have to be 48 floors, it can also be 3, but they will matter.

Martin Gütlbauer: I had no doubts that we will get to the top, I was more focused on the question of how we felt as a team. Will we be able to get into a shared mindset? And it worked out really well today. Also, as Eberhard has said at the beginning, he woke up and said today is going to be a good day. It really turned out to be a good day. I’ve been working in rehabilitation for 8/9 years and I’ve known Eberhard for 4 or 5 years. He has been focused more and more on his heart. Because ambition will only get you so far. But if your heart is involved and you’re doing it together, it is a beautiful thing. I am always delighted whenever I walk these stairs together with Eberhard. Today is no different.

Eberhard Jordan: I want to highlight the great support from our sponsors this year. They make it possible, to really concentrate on the project and also sit down in a calm moment and not always feel stressed. Will it work out? Will it not work out? Being able to say, “I am doing my work.” That is something else and that is where the fun is. Thank you.