All climbs are fun.
This one is personal.

Back in November 2020, I received news that no one ever wants to hear..."You have cancer". Thanks to the advancements in cancer screening, surgical techniques and treatment, I am officially on the other side and doing great only 16 months from diagnosis. So much so that when Luke reached out I decided to take on the challenge of climbing to Everest Base Camp AND raising $50,000 as part of the Climb to Fight Cancer. As intimidating as EBC is to me, I couldn't think of a better way to show others facing cancer that a diagnosis doesn't need to define them.

This trek is a remarkable analogy of the journey with cancer. You face a mountain that is daunting and appears insurmountable at times... but step by step you learn that you can do amazing things that once seemed impossible. And when you reach the top, you see the world open up in ways you never knew it could.

Cancer statistics are staggering- one in two men and one in three women will face a cancer diagnosis. Like so many others, far too many people in my circle have been impacted by or lost to cancer. Only weeks after I decided to do this hike I celebrated the decision with a group of female CEO friends who supported me through my journey.  Only weeks later, one of them was diagnosed with breast cancer. As I trained for this hike, she worked her way through chemotherapy. And as we go wheels up to Nepal, she is expected to go in for her DMX surgery. I will be carrying a picture of her with me as I climb as a symbol of her ongoing journey up her own personal mountain. And when I reach EBC I hope to celebrate that we are both considered cancer free. I have another dear friend that has been fighting Stage IV breast cancer for years benefiting from the remarkable advancements in immunotherapy. Research groups like those at Fred Hutch and at other institutions around the country have played critical roles in making these advancements possible. By supporting the Climb to Fight Cancer, we can contribute to improving outcomes for patients in the future.

Please consider pressing "DONATE" and contributing to the Climb to Fight Cancer. By doing so, you can play a role in advancing research and pushing for better therapeutic options. And for those that don’t know, Fred Hutch has already made critical medical advances — from developing bone marrow transplantation as a cure for leukemia, to pioneering powerful therapies that harness the immune system to fight cancer, to leading national and international initiatives that enable earlier cancer diagnoses and more effective treatments. Your support will fund continued efforts in this extraordinary research driving lifesaving discoveries. Any amount you can give makes a difference to people and families facing deadly diseases. Your gift is 100 percent tax deductible.

Thank you for your support and let's do this together!