ELEVATED

I'm Sending Good Vibes to Paul King

…and to the whole King family! Paul’s fight inspired his sons to found Survivor Summit, a non-profit organization that helps cancer fighters everywhere take on challenges. I’m honored to have climbed Kilimanjaro with this organization in 2012—our team raised over $230,000 to benefit LIVESTRONG’s cancer programs and services. The 2013 dates for their next expedition will be unveiled soon; stay tuned for more information. In the meantime, please join me in wishing this inspiring family much happiness and good health for many years to come!

09 / 18

1 note

Thank you to my parents, who sent me a surprise to congratulate me on making the summit!

07 / 11

1 note

Why I Climb

In honor of Father’s Day coming up tomorrow, I climb for my dad. My dad has lived his life with intensity, loyalty, and passion, and has generously donated to a lot of good causes, too. He also built his own business, never losing sight of building something greater: his family. Family is a really big deal to him. So, this is a shoutout to one of the strongest men I know; thanks for teaching me to be strong, too, Dad. I’ll need it when I’m heading up Kilimanjaro. Every day, I climb for you.

06 / 16

0 notes

Why I Climb

Today I climb for my mom’s family, the MacCoys. June 6, 2012 would have been my grandfather’s (we lovingly called him “Pop Pop”) 100th birthday, and while I didn’t have too long to meet him (he passed away when I was a toddler), I’m thinking of him and his amazing sense of humor today. And according to my Aunt Jean, he really loved watching All in the Family—who can’t laugh at least a little bit watching that clip? And my Uncle Steve says this CCR song was one of his favorites, too.

So from my mom, to my late Uncle Tom, to all those crazy partiers over at Reed’s Beach who have kindly donated to my cause, today I climb for you. I’ll be heading to Kilimanjaro in a few weeks, but I hope to see you guys again soon. Love and miss you all!

06 / 06

0 notes

LIVESTRONG's Camp Kesem

LIVESTRONG is more than yellow wristbands. Barb Simmons writes in today’s LIVESTRONG blog about Camp Kesem, a summer camp program for kids from families who know all too well the fight against cancer.

“LIVESTRONG is best known for providing support for those battling cancer and survivors. Most assume survivors are those that survived cancer, but there is a large group of survivors out there that never had cancer but provided support and love for those that fought gallantly—both successfully and unsuccessfully. Among those are thousands of children being raised in a single parent household due to cancer stealing one of their parents, or those living with the daily struggles of watching a parent suffer with cancer.”

Do you know a great kid facing a family member’s struggle against cancer, and could use some extra love and support this summer? Or, are you a college student who is interested in being a summer camp counselor for this worthwhile program? Click the link above to learn more about Camp Kesem and see if it’s in your area.

04 / 25

2 notes

Ana, 37, is a caregiver for her father, who has been diagnosed with lung cancer. “Dealing with my father’s diagnosis was tough,” she writes. “I needed to talk with people who were going through the same thing I was experiencing. A friend suggested I contact LIVESTRONG because her coworker had received tremendous support. LIVESTRONG’s emotional support services helped ease my stress, and I got facts about cancer from a nurse. I also found out there was professional emotional support for my son. Too many people are afraid of even saying the word ‘cancer.’ LIVESTRONG helps people come together to share our experiences and knowledge.”

I’m proud to be raising money for such a worthy cause, so that people like Ana, her father, and her son can all have access to the support they need in their family’s fight against cancer.

04 / 25

0 notes

“A few days before Christmas in 2002, Annabel Clark’s mother, actress Lynn Redgrave, was diagnosed with breast cancer. As the pair struggled with the diagnosis, they decided to turn the disease into a photographic journal “to make it less scary.” It was a defining moment in many ways. Not only did it bring mother and daughter together in ways they could never imagine, but it also made Clark the photographer she is today.”

“A few days before Christmas in 2002, Annabel Clark’s mother, actress Lynn Redgrave, was diagnosed with breast cancer. As the pair struggled with the diagnosis, they decided to turn the disease into a photographic journal “to make it less scary.” It was a defining moment in many ways. Not only did it bring mother and daughter together in ways they could never imagine, but it also made Clark the photographer she is today.”

(via npr)

04 / 19

257 notes