Aron Andersson is the adventurer who doesn’t take the word “uncloudy” in his mouth.
After surviving cancer as a nine-year-old, he became wheelchair bound, but that hasn’t stopped him from climbing Kilimanjaro, running the Vasaloppet or cycling to Paris.
– For me, it has often been about making the most of the second chance I got, he says.
When Aron Andersson was nine years old, he was told that he had “an evil lump” growing in his pelvis. The operation led to him having reduced sensation and function in his lower body. He thinks he was able to handle it precisely because he was so small.
– At that age, I think you deal with it by just saying: okay, these are the new conditions. At times in life, you probably haven’t had time to get into as many ruts as you did when you were older. So you take the change easier.
“Understood that it might end”
He then got the cancer back in his lungs three times when he was older, and then it was more difficult to deal with, he says. But sport was something that helped him look ahead and keep him positive through the treatments.
– Then it was tougher. I was older and understood more that this might end. Then I got energy from having some kind of clear goal over there. Can you find something on the horizon that you can get energy from just to get through this difficult period.
Recovered from cancer – then best friend died
When he was thirteen, he lost his friend. Aron had just survived cancer and ended up in a wheelchair when his best friend Erik was run over by a drunk driver.
– It was an incredible shock. I had just gotten through cancer. I had just survived and made my way back to life and then comes that slap. It was incredibly tough.
He had to find a way to deal with his emotions and a method he still uses today is something he calls “self-nap”.
– Then I said to myself: one day I will get to meet Erik again. And I have no idea if that’s true. I fooled myself that it will happen. And that’s one thing I’ve found myself using pretty much for the rest of my life. A little self-talk in situations to make life easier.
Role model for children and young people
He has challenged himself a lot over the years and he refuses to think that anything is impossible. In recent years, however, it has been more about showing others that it works, he says. Something that became clear when he danced in Let’s Dance last fall.
– There were many parents who wrote: “Hi, our daughter or son watches you every Saturday and it means so much to show that it works”. So it was really great.