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
Climbing To The Top
Bruce Hestad only feels at home when he's gasping for air at unimaginable altitudes. He's climbed mountains before, but none like this. His latest trip up Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa can inspire anyone facing life's difficulties, and help them to rise above their challenges. Bruce Hestad's family will tell you he's a fun-hog. He's always looking for adventure. His latest trek took him to Africa's highest peak. "It was just a truly wonderful experience," recounts the 56-year old Hestad. He and his friend, fellow Watertown resident Joel Higgins, were as close to the sun as you can get on earth. "Each day we would gain elevation of 2,000 to 5,000 feet," Hestad explains. It took the two men five days of hiking to reach the summit. At their highest point they stood 19,348 feet above sea level. Hestad says it wasn't a tough climb, but the altitude made it difficult, "You go very slow, very deliberate. You're taking deep breaths continually, because of the lack of oxygen up there." All the hard work was worth it. The views from the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro are unreal and he claims the sunset is one of the best on earth, "We were watching the sun coming up out of the clouds, versus normally we stand down here and we see it below the clouds." Joel Higgins calls the trip, "A life's dream." He had never climbed anything that high before, and although he doesn't have any direct connection to prostate cancer, the climb was an experience he'll never forget, and one that he hopes will affect others. "Hopefully we've inspired people with cancer, prostate cancer particularly, saying, 'Hey, this is survivable, I can be a veteran. I can get through my cancer, and live a life I want to live, and it doesn't have to rule me." That's a message Hestad has taken to heart. In 2000 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, but this climb has shown him that you can always achieve your goals - any goal - if you fight and believe. "In our normal day to day lives we're climbing summits all the time, and so you just go for them. You go for it, you don't quit." Bruce is still treating his cancer and says God willing he'll be able to make the group's next climb in two years - to the top of Mt. Elbrus in Europe. The prostate cancer climb was also a fundraiser for cancer research. Between the two of them, Hestad and Higgins raised $15,000. Prostate cancer affects one in every three Americans. If you'd like
to know more about the prostate cancer climb you can go to www.prostatecancerclimb.org -- To reach Chris Studer e-mail cstuder@ksfy.com
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Two months ago we introduced you to a Watertown man
whose battle against prostate cancer was going to take him to one of
the world's highest peaks. Now we have his almost indescribable story
from his rise to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. 
