The original Climb4LifeSM event was conceived in 2001, while HERA Founder, Sean Patrick was recovering from her seventh ovarian cancer surgery. She felt a rock climbing event would put a different face on ovarian cancer and get people involved in the cause. Realizing the Climb4Life would raise awareness in women who are healthy and active, Patrick saw greater potential: the event would enable women to be introduced to the sport of climbing, and its physical and mental benefits.
“The skills women learn in climbing – problem solving, risk taking and confidence in their decision making – will enable them to climb all the mountains in their lives,” Sean said.
These events are a cornerstone in helping accomplish our mission of stopping the loss of women from ovarian cancer by promoting Health, Empowerment, Research, and Awareness. HERA’s Climb4Life series provides an excellent forum for empowering women and supporting awareness of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. A place to turn your passion into action to find a cure for ovarian cancer, the HERA Climb4Life Series welcomes women, men, teens, children, and families – all abilities, all ages, all levels – to take part.
The Climb4Life series has grown from a single event held on the Black Diamond campus in Salt Lake City, Utah attracting 65 climbers into a multi-city program supported by numerous partners and attracting hundreds of participants. Annual events are held in Massachusetts, Utah, Colorado, and the Washington D.C. metro area. Each event is unique and reflective of the local communities that host them, providing climbing, hiking, yoga, and much more – in beautiful settings with professional athletes and guides, as well as others like you who support ovarian cancer research and awareness initiatives.
Whether a beginner climber or hiker or an experienced mountaineer, a courageous cancer survivor or a person whose life has been affected by cancer, or just someone looking for a weekend of fun while supporting a great cause – Climb4Life is for you!
The Climb4LifeSM series are HERA’s signature fundraising events. Over 85 percent of the funds raised through these events provide for HERA’s scientific research and community grants, as well as education and awareness initiatives.
March 2-3 – Climb4Life Boston, Boston MA
June 22 – Climb4Life Colorado, Boulder, CO
July 13 — Climb4Life DC, Metro Washington, DC area
Sept. 13-15 – Climb4Life Utah – Salt Lake City, UT
Organizing Teams
Climb4LifeSMweekends are organized by outstanding, dedicated teams. Thanks to the following people who donate countless hours of their time organizing HERA’s Climb4LifeSM events all over the country. Because of them, HERA can do so much more to reach out into new communities, empowering women and raising awareness about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.
Climb4Life Boston – Jennifer Higgins, Event Coordinator
Climb4Life Colorado - Emily Clarendon, Event Coordinator
Cathy Badell, Lyn Bain, Ann Barter, Kurt Bonam, Annemarie Carzoli, Emily Clarendon, Jackie Cox, Dan Gambino, Doug Haller, Laura Hoenig, Olivia Hsu, Carol Kotchek, Lyn Lammert, Karla Lipp, Noel Love, Shelly Martin, Chip Nakagawa, Mary Playdon, Kim Polk, Heather Reeves, Lindsay Schumacher, Lee Smith, Cassie Strid, Judith Thomas, Melanie Walling, Kevin Wheeler
Climb4Life Washington, DC -Lisa O’Connor, Event Coordinator
Judy Bradt, Lillian Chao-Quinlan, David Egan, Valerie Franzen, Rhonda Krafchin, Andrew Lawatsch, Eugene Lee, Sue Lowley, Leah Otten
Climb4Life Utah – Claire Gorton, Event Coordinator
Tim Babbel, Tyson Bradley, Michael Buchanan, Lissa Calloway, Lisa Curley, Molly Dempster, Kirsten Dockstader, Annie Downhour, Bruce Engelhard, Rai Farrelly, Julie Faure, David Fernandez, Patty Gierloff, Claire Gorton, Noah Harper, Tracy Herrmann, Aubrey Hubbard, Jay Kinghorn, Kevin Langlois, Magali Lequient, Mike Libecki, Alexandra Locke, Kyle McFarland, Andrew Melber, Brendan Nicholson, Shannon Nielsen, Ryan Nielsen, Winslow Passey, Todd Passey, Jason Price, Michelle Ritter, Cheryl Rudy, Hilary Silberman, Beth Siron, Amanda Smith, Raymond Soto, Annie Trujillo, Jeremiah Watt
