Last night I talked with Sean Patrick of Carbondale. I shouldn't have been able to talk to her. Truth is Sean Patrick shouldn't be talking on the phone. She shouldn't have gone for the hike she did earlier in the day outside of Aspen. She shouldn't be an altruistic person who founded a nonprofit.
Sean Patrick should have died in 2000. Just before heading out to Yosemite with some friends that year she wound up taking a different voyage - this one on a Flight For Life helicopter to Denver. She was given an ultimatum: 4 weeks to live or surgery which had a 20% survival rate. She chose that latter.
She has had seven surgeries to date, participated in a couple of clinical trials and no, her ovarian cancer is not in remission - it never will be. She has come to terms with it in a healthy manner. "I am OK with giving it its piece of real estate. It just can't spread out for beachfront property."
In 2002, Patrick began HERA Climb4Life. The organization has two purposes: fundraising for cancer research - $750k in six years to date, and to empower women battling the disease.
On June 14th, Climb4Life will be taken a small group of ovarian cancer survivors, plucking them out of their comfort zone and placing them on the summit of the First Flatiron. Also a larger more diverse of group will be cragging in Boulder Canyon, celebrating life, something many didn't believe they would be able to do after their first diagnosis.
So I need a belayer. I figure giving up one day of my life to shed light on this organization is a small price to pay. I will bring a video camera and film a package - both from the vantage of on the rock and on the ground, for our newscast that evening.
If you are willing to help with donations - a big plea in this recession, visit HERA Foundation by clicking on this link.
Enjoying life
Got home a bit ago mountain biking with Jason @ South Valley Open Space. Felt surprisingly good considering it was my second single-track outing this season. And I'm happy to report all of my skin is attached. Need to tune-up the legs, lungs and bike for my weekend trip to Fruita in a couple of days.
This past weekend was spent in Buena Vista with a gaggle of friends and strangers and lots of goodwill, firewood and beer.
Some of the climbing pics:
Gabe working a 5.12
Gabe whipping off the 5.12. It was a frequent occurrence. But after multiple attempts, Gabe dialed in the sequence in one of the more powerful displays of climbing I've seen. His resolve and determination are something to emulate.
My lead. Nothing spectacular. Something to plug gear in and get comfortable after not having led anything since Labor Day last year and on only my second outing on a rope this season. Just wished it was about three times as long.
Don't take life too seriously
Our anchor Kellie lighting up the mood after an error-plagued newscast
WWDVD? What would Darth Vader do?
Has been awhile since I looked at my Costa Rica trip. Me on a sendero in Santa Elena Cloudforest Refuge
Mmmm! Bacon! Actually peccaries stink like no other. These bold things are all around the reserve and offer no excuses for you being in their way on the trail
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