Our Goal:
To raise $1,000,000 for
research and public education
about prostate cancer.
research and public education
about prostate cancer.
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| Our Goal: To raise $1,000,000 for research and public education about prostate cancer. | |
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John Loesing, Project Director Dr. Terry Weyman, Founder |
PROSTATE CANCER CLIMB
Climbers out to conquer cancer NORTHAMPTON - Two local women are preparing to travel 205 miles south of the equator and climb 19,340 feet, all to raise money for research into a disease that neither will ever contract. The love of climbing, the attraction of adventure and a chance to do something for others is prompting each to join an expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro to benefit the Prostate Cancer Research Institute. "It seems a perfect blend of putting my love for climbing and an attempt for helping someone else achieve their dreams and the possibility of extending someone's life," said Kimberly Lange, one of the climbers. Lange, 40, lost her father to cancer. It wasn't prostate cancer, but his passing made her feel that she needed to do something to help someone else's father survive a fight with cancer, she said. When Lange, a chiropractor, was contacted by a fellow chiropractor from California about the climb, she said yes immediately. Holly Keith, the other local climber, said her own decision to go was made just as quickly. "We've been climbing together for so long. When she put it out to me, it was an easy step," said Keith, 42. "Kilimanjaro has been in my imagination for 25 years. I was in Kenya, and I could see it. It's that large." Kilimanjaro is not the highest mountain in the world, but it is one of the world's highest free-standing mountains, sitting in Tanzania's northern border with Kenya. The women's goal is to raise $12,000. The group, now 25 climbers, hopes to raise $1 million. Both local women have climbed all 48 peaks of the White Mountain range and Mount Rainier. Lange has also climbed the most lightning prone mountain of the Rockies, and Keith has climbed Island Peak in Nepal. The actual climb, which starts Sept. 13, will last six days - five days up and one day down. The ascent takes longer partly in order to acclimate to the different altitude and conditions. Kilimanjaro has both tropic and arctic conditions and is home to five major eco-zones. "It'll be the longest one-day descent I'll ever done," she said. "Frankly, I like going up more than I like going down." Kilimanjaro will be Lange's personal largest mountain. "But when you understand mountains and when you understand what you need to prepare for, it's not daunting. It's going to present all the problems I like, the difficulty of the climb and acclimatization, the coldness," she said. "Is some of it going to be uncomfortable? Yeah. Difficult? Yeah. That's part of mountain climbing." Keith said she's been impressed with the contact she's had with the other climbers. "They have their heads on straight. They're motivated, sincere. It's heartwarming already." Both women said they are thankful that a number of firms, including RailRiders, Wild Roses, and MountainWoman, have donated equipment and supplies. For more information on the expedition or to donate to the climbers, visit the Web site: http://www. prostatecancerclimb. com/kilimanjaro-climb/ climbers.htm
-- To reach Angela Carbone e-mail acarbone@repub.com
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