Friends and Family! I am thrilled you are here to learn about my goal to help teenage cancer survivors experience the life changing impacts of the outdoors.
As you might know, 29 years ago I was diagnosed with leukemia. 3 years later, I was lucky to spend a month in the Wyoming wilderness with 15 other teenagers hiking, canoeing, and just being in nature. I was able to forget about my cancer, challenge myself physically, and have fun. It renewed and energized me in ways I didn't know I needed at the time and allowed me to move into my high school and college years with the emotional, social, and physical confidence that was robbed from me by 2 years of cancer treatment.
I truly believe this trip changed my life and want to give this gift to other adolescent cancer survivors so that they can enter adulthood renewed, confident and empowered to become even better versions of themselves post cancer.
I have partnered with Wilderness Adventures - the very same organization that impacted my life 26 years ago (!) - to fund trips for adolescent cancer survivors. They want all kids to experience the magic of the outdoors regardless of background and are a true partner in this endeavor.
While they will be partly subsidizing these trips (THANK YOU!!), 3 weeks in the wilderness is expensive. To meet these costs, my husband, Tom, and I will be climbing the Grand Teton on September 10th to raise money.
We are aiming to raise $1,000 for every year since the original seed for this idea was planted back in 1998 during my first Wilderness Adventures trip (which culminated in climbing The Grand). $26K will fund a trip in the Wyoming area for 5 kids. Everything will be covered for each child including travel and equipment.
Please join me in this journey! Your support will help kids who have faced devastating challenges early in life realize that cancer does not necessarily mean an end to their dreams! Perhaps one of them will even try out for the Olympics one day (and maybe this time he/she will make it! :) )
Let's give this special group of kids a renewed outlook on life!
Note: All donations will go directly to Wilderness Adventures Foundation. As a 501c3 charitable organization, 100% of donations go towards supporting a student in need.
