In January 2008 I plan to climb Cotopaxi in Ecuador (elev. 19,400ft) to help raise money for research to create a vaccine for breast cancer. I am doing this for my daughters Arianna and Natasha as well as in the memory of my Aunt Patty and my friend Mary Jane Kukuk. I hope that my daughters will never have to suffer this disease. I will be taking on this adventure with their thoughts and memories to inspire me..

Cotopaxi is the world's highest active volcano and is at 5897m Ecuador's second highest mountain. Loosely translated from the Quechua, Cotopaxi means "Smooth Neck of the Moon" and was first climbed by the German geologist Wilhelm Reiss and the Colombian Angel Escobar in 1872. At that time they did not need any ice climbing gear as there was an ice-free trail up a recent lava flow. Our team will strive to the summit so mothers, sisters, and wives may some day not have to suffer from breast cancer.

The preliminary research is very promising and worthy of our support. Last year’s team netted over $100,000 for Dr. Leisha Emen’s research at Johns Hopkins University which sped up her process by 6 months. Imagine how many lives were saved through those 21 climbers.

My personal goal is to raise a minimum of $6,000. My Deadline for donations is November 1st, 2007.

Please check out Climb For Hope for links to information about the vaccine research and our climbing itinerary.

I appreciate your support for what is the beginning of an amazing journey -- one that will speed up the work on a vaccine that has shown promise in fighting cancer in breast cancer patients and help save lives.

Thank you so much for your kindness, friendship, and support.

Ted

P.S. if you would rather send a check, please make it out to: Climb For Hope Ted Williams 2816 Mary Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203