WARNING!
In the time it takes you to read this page, another woman will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States. Donate now—and you can make a difference in the life of that next woman. (You also won't need to read the rest of this page!)
I've wanted to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for as long as I can remember. I'm not sure why, but when the opportunity presented itself to join the 2008 Climb for Hope expedition to Africa's highest point (19,340'), I couldn't throw my hat into the ring fast enough. Shortly after signing up, I saw my doctor for an annual physical. My primary care physician is the greatest, and she's never steered me wrong. So I told her what I was going to do, and asked if there was any reason why I shouldn't participate in this adventure. "Let me ask you a few quick questions," she said, as I braced myself for the tough medical scrutiny I expected to come next."Have you ever climbed a mountain?" "Never," I replied. "Do you like to camp? "Not really." "How would you feel about not showering for six days?" "I think it would be awful." "I see no reason why you shouldn't do this," she concluded, with a smile. Several weeks later I attended a company picnic and found myself in line next to a very engaging woman, as we waited to have our caricatures done. The artist was drawing each person doing what they enjoy, and the woman asked me what activity I was going to choose. One thing led to another, and I found myself telling her about Climb for Hope and my goal to climb Kilimanjaro. Her eyes were intent as she asked me question after question about the cause.Our turns came, and the artist sketched her behind a big desk checking out books (she loves being a librarian), and me vigorously paddling a kayak. We ran into each other again later, and I was surprised when she said she wanted to make a donation to Climb for Hope. "We've got to fund the research," she said. "It's up to each of us." As she handed me her check, she asked if I would personally carry her name to the top of Kilimanjaro, and told me she had had cancer. She's in the middle of her life and has a 16-year-old son. Please help me to raise money for Climb for Hope and the many, many women who stand to benefit from the innovative vaccine research it supports. My personal goal is to raise a minimum of $10,000—one-fifth of the $50,000 we're hoping to raise as Team Pittsburgh, to honor the 50,000 women who lost their fights to breast cancer in the U.S. last year. I will be proud to carry the names of the people you would like to honor and their stories to Kilimanjaro with me in June 2008. I can't comprehend discovering the cure for cancer, or even what it's like to climb to the top of a mountain yet. But together we can go step by step, and someday look back to see the mountains we've climbed, and the fight against breast cancer we've helped to win. Let's do it now...on our watch. Thank you so much for your fully tax-deductible contribution to the 2008 Climb for Hope. Karen Kern P.S. If you would prefer to send a check, that would also be most welcome. Please make it payable to Climb for Hope and mail it to: Karen Kern
15-B Bethany Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15215
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