Shedding skin: the hidden beauty in new beginnings

Website Disclaimer October 2024

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About this Website

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The content of this Website (including microsites) has been prepared by Cape Capital AG, with its registered address at Utoquai 55, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland (“Cape Capital”), duly registered at the commercial register of the Canton of Zurich with number CHE-109.617.147. and contains the views and opinions of the particular individuals and is for general information and marketing purposes only. All copyrights and other rights, included but not limited to logos and registered trademarks relating to the entire content of the Website are reserved exclusively to Cape Capital or the specifically designated right holders. Any use, in particular the reproduction or publication in full or in part is permitted only with the prior written consent of Cape Capital. Cape Capital may from time to time suspend the operation of this Website for repair, maintenance or improvement work, or in order to update or upgrade its content or functionality. Cape Capital may also change the format, content and/or access of this Website at any time at its sole discretion without notice. Although Cape Capital believes that information provided on this Website is based on reliable sources, content on this Website is presented only as of the date published or indicated, and may be superseded by subsequent market events or for other reasons. Therefore Cape Capital cannot assume responsibility for the quality, correctness, timeliness or completeness of the information contained herein. Unless otherwise stated, the numbers/figures on the Website are unaudited.

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Cape Capital is a regulated asset manager of collective assets according to the Federal Act on Financial Institutions of 15 June 2018 (FinIA) and supervised by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA, Laupenstrasse 27, CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland (FINMA). The Website contains information about various collective investments (“Funds”) which may have been registered or otherwise notified for distribution and marketing in the jurisdiction you have selected. Please note, that such registration or notification does not mean that the Funds are suitable for all investors and their investment objectives, financial situation and risk profile. As an asset manager of collective assets, Cape Capital is, among others, subject to the rules under the Swiss Financial Services Act (FinSA), the Swiss Collective Investment Schemes Act (CISA) and the Swiss Financial Institutions Act (FinIA).Cape Capital is affiliated to the following Ombudsman according to FinSA: Finanzombudsstelle Schweiz (FINOS), Talstrasse 20, CH-8001 Zurich, Switzerland. For further information, please refer to the General Client Information Document available on the Website which forms an integral part of these Conditions.

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Nothing contained on this Website constitutes a solicitation, an offer or a recommendation to buy or sell any Cape Capital Funds or other financial instruments, nor does it constitute any form of personal investment advice which takes into account your personal circumstances. Cape Capital does not provide investment, legal, tax or other advice through this Website and nothing herein should be construed as such advice. Cape Capital does not represent that any Cape Capital collective assets or financial instruments mentioned on this Cape Capital website are suitable for any investor. Investment or other decisions should be made solely on the basis of the relevant product and/or service documents (prospectus/offering memorandum, fund contract/articles, key information documents, financial reports) of the respective collective investment. If not a Cape Capital client, it is strongly recommended to contact a professional financial advisor, tax consultant or other qualified expert in order to determine whether an investment in a Fund or other financial instrument corresponds to the specific requirements and preferred level of risk of the investor.

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Risk Considerations

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The provision of financial services and investments in Funds and other financial instruments involve opportunities but also bear risks, including the risk that the value of investments and the income therefrom may fall or rise and investors may not get back the full amount invested or may even lose all of their investment. Investors should ensure to have fully understood such risks before taking any investment decisions. Cape Capital strongly advises to consult the brochure “Risks Involved in Trading Financial Instruments” of the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) as well as the relevant documents of the respective Fund or financial instrument and to seek professional investment advice before taking any decision to invest. Investors should note, that these Conditions do not represent a complete statement of risks associated to a Fund or a financial instrument. Past performance is no indication of current or future performance. Performance data do not include commissions and costs incurred by investors when subscribing or redeeming Fund shares.Investments, in particular collective investments in private equity, venture capital and other illiquid assets involve an above-average degree of risk, including the risk that losses may even exceed the original investment and should be seen as long-term in nature.

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The access and use of this Website, and these present Conditions are governed by substantive Swiss law with the exclusion of the conflict of law principles. The place of jurisdiction is Zurich, Switzerland.

Last Update: October 2024

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David Heimer was Head Chef at Zurich’s Josef restaurant until a life-changing accident two years ago. Here, he shares his inspiring story of recovery, inner strength and why giving up was never an option

I’ve always struggled with food that focuses too much on appearance; the real value of a dish lies in its soul. For me, this mirrors life: authenticity and depth create true meaning, not perfection. I’ve worked in professional kitchens since I was 13 and my most recent job, until two years ago, was as head chef at Bib Gourmand fine dining restaurant Josef, in Zurich. Then, one day, everything changed and I had to build a new life – including relearning how to cook.

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I’ve always been into action sports – snowboarding, surfing, motorbiking, tennis – and it was my dream to get my skydiving license. So, in May 2023, a friend and I went to Barcelona to take a beginners’ course. For my first jump alone, it was windy and while concentrating on getting all the gears right in the air, I went off course. I had to find a new landing spot. As I got closer to the ground, at around 30metres, I realised that in front of me was a power line. With no time to turn against the wind, there wasn’t much I could do apart from try to fly over it. Everything happened so fast and I don’t remember much more until I was woken by the man who saved my life.

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*David working as Head Chef at restaurant Josef, 2022*

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I was really lucky. Driving along the highway, he had spotted me coming into land so pulled over and called 112. He saw me fall from where I was caught in the cable. My burning parachute was on top of me, the plastic melting into my body. He used his clothes to try and put out the flames, and removed my goggles which saved my sight. Without him, I wouldn’t have survived because the bushes around me also caught fire. He is my hero. A rescue helicopter had a practice drill five minutes away so arrived quickly and I was airlifted to a hospital with a specialist burns unit. I suffered 70% third-degree burns and was in a coma for several weeks, during which time I went into septic shock and had all my fingers amputated.

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After a month I was moved to intensive care at the University Hospital Zurich. I had almost weekly operations, before being transferred to the Bellikon Rehabilitation Clinic, my home for the next 14 months. Each day I had up to 13 therapies, including physiotherapy to mobilise the scar tissue. The body is smarter than we think. At the beginning I was in survival mode, fighting, but also very positive. I was naïve: I thought way more was possible in terms of reconstruction. The mental process of becoming more realistic started far later than the physical one, which I am grateful for.

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*David in 2023, just 6 months after his accident. Photo by Maurice Haas.*

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Countless times I’ve been told by doctors, therapists and specialists that I should stop hoping and accept the limits. At first, those moments broke me down but I’ve always found a way to gather myself and keep going. There’s real beauty in the small steps, in proving that impossible is just another word for something that hasn’t been achieved yet. I was told my left bicep muscle was gone forever, that I wouldn’t be able to train it. Today, I can do 50 pull-ups. My right arm is stronger, yes, but my left is growing every day. I was told an eye socket reconstruction couldn’t be done, until I found a surgeon who believes it can and I’m preparing for that operation (and the handful on my nose) with full optimism.

Leaving the rehabilitation centre and moving into my own apartment last October was hard. I knew that if I was going to give this new life a chance, I couldn’t hide away. It hadn’t occurred to me before but we see very few real life examples of badly burnt people. Early on in my recovery, I met the Swiss runner and athlete Philipp Bosshard who was also burnt in an accident and that was very helpful. When I went out, people were staring a lot; kids were asking their parents if I was a monster – and that happened daily. I realised that it wasn’t enough for me to accept how I look: I also had to help the people around me get used to seeing the scars, otherwise they would always be uncomfortable. It takes a lot of energy to do that but it’s the only way, and the process has made me stronger and more grounded.

Growth is not about rushing; it's about focusing on what really matters, even if the road is rocky.

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In the beginning, I had nursing help every morning and evening but not for lunch or during the day. I had to learn to take care of myself and if it took half hour to peel an onion, I just had to get on with it. I quickly realised that becoming frustrated when the toothpaste lid falls to the floor five times isn’t going to help, and will only hurt my hands more. I had to stay calm, give it time and slowly but surely it got better. Society is obsessed with speed but for me, growth is not about rushing; it’s about focusing on what really matters, even if the road is rocky.

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*David playing tennis, despite being told he would never play again, 2025. Photo by Maurice Haas*

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Over the past year I’ve been doing eight hours of therapy a day as well as cooking for up to four hours (making three times the mess I used to). I was told I’d never cook again, never fish, never snowboard, surf, swim, play tennis, drive a car. Now I do all those things, some of them even better than before. It didn’t happen overnight: I had to fail hundreds of times before the technique and strength came back. Some things worked with makeshift tools I’ve built myself using silicone and a 3D printer, others by finding a new way to do the same thing. The process has been made slower by prosthetics which are in development but stuck on software and hardware problems. But if I didn’t commit to this level of effort, my mobility, muscles, and nerves would decline. And I refuse to accept that. I want to be able with a capital A.

To just walk through the street or be able to do what I did before takes so much more courage with this new ‘cover’ of mine.

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I think a lot about the future. Over a year ago, in my darkest moment, I met my life partner and she gives me great motivation. My chef background will always be part of me, but now it’s only one piece of the bigger picture. When my surgeries are done and I have functional prosthetics, I would love to rebuild my business – nutrition and health are huge interests of mine – but I have to figure out in what scale and capacity. The accident was a turning point, almost like a rebirth, and I’ve pushed myself to adapt. To just walk through the street or be able to do what I did before takes so much more courage with this new ‘cover’ of mine. Other people might put on a ‘cover’ to be more accepted in situations but for me it’s the opposite: I have to let my inner strength shine through.

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*David continues to defy the odds every day. Photo by Maurice Haas.*

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Marco Pierre White once said about Michelin stars: “The people giving out those stars have less knowledge than the individual behind the stove… What is a star worth, or two stars or three stars? They are worthless, because you are being given them by people who have less knowledge than yourself.” That resonates deeply with me. Very often, those who criticise or judge are not the ones who understand the hard work or the lived experience. Being different is not a weakness: it can become a strength. I’m not fully there yet, but I’m in the process of turning it into one.

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Learn more about David at his website here

In this article

Written by

David Heimer

Chef

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