Vegans have this incessant need to prove to everybody that their way of life is the best. It's understandable, especially since the entire premise of being a vegan relies on saving animal lives, theoretically. So why wouldn't they try to convince everyone that their way is the right way? Hell, I know I would.

That's partially what led to the unfortunate demise of Dr. Maria Strydom, lecturer at Melbourne University.

Strydom and her husband were both practicing vegans, and both stuck to their diet wholeheartedly and vehemently. Strydom was tired of people constantly berating others who practiced the vegan lifestyle. Many people regularly asked her and her husband about their supposed iron and protein deficiencies, to the point where they felt they needed to address the stereotype once and for all.

"It seems that people have this warped idea of vegans being malnourished and weak. By climbing the seven summits we want to prove that vegans can do anything and more."

According to the Times report, the Strydoms decided to start climbing the Seven Summits (the seven tallest peaks in the world, one on each continent) just to prove to everyone that the stereotype isn't true. They knew they would have to get to Everest eventually.

Before reaching the peak, Strydom suffered from a pulmonary embolism and passed away. Whether this was brought on by the cold, her diet, a combination of both or an entirely different reason is still unknown. Her husband also suffered from a pulmonary embolism, but was treated and taken care of before it was fatal.

Photo Credit: I'm Nepal, The Australian