A man who defied seemingly unconquerable odds and inspired a hit film will be speaking at Penn State.

Aron Ralston, the climber and outdoorsman that inspired the film “127 Hours,” will tell his inspiring tale of perseverance on Thursday, April 5 at 8 p.m. The event will take place in Eisenhower Auditorium as a part of SPA’s Distinguished Speakers Series. Tickets are free for Penn State students with a valid PSU ID and will be available beginning Thursday, March 22.

Also, based on availability, tickets for the general public may become available for free starting Thursday, March 29. These tickets will be available at the Bryce Jordan Center Ticket Office, HUB Information Desk, Eisenhower Auditorium and Penn State Ticket Office Downtown.

Ralston’s story began in 2003, when he was descending a remote Utah canyon alone. During his descent, an 800-pound boulder broke loose, crushed his right hand, and pinned him against the canyon wall.

Ralston was trapped for 5 days without water when he made an unimaginable decision. He decided to sever his own arm below the elbow, climb out of the canyon, and walk seven miles before encountering others who alerted rescue workers.

Ralston wrote of his experience in his best-selling memoir, “Between a Rock and a Hard Place,” which was brought to movie screens by Danny Boyle, the Academy Award-winning director. The film, “127 hours,” stars James Franco as Ralston.

Even with a prosthetic arm, Ralston continues to climb.

We can all use a little bit of motivation and inspiration. Hearing Ralston speak should be a treat.