A BIG year ahead...

2010: A big year ahead for Climb for Cancer Care

Climb for Cancer Care is growing! Each year, since the program's inception in 2006, numbers have grown. 2010 is proving to be no exception, with a projected number of over 20 climbers ascending peaks from coast-to-coast! Check back in mid-November for updates on what 2010 will hold, as well as what YOU can do to support Climb for Cancer Care!

-Pat

2010? What's Next?

Only time will tell, I suppose. News of the upcoming 2010 ascent(s) will be forthcoming in the following weeks.

Excited? I know I am!

Interested in joining the cause? Send an "e-mail of intent" to Pat at pat@climbforcancercare.com and express why you should be considered for joining the climb of a lifetime...

Check back in the next few weeks for news on the 2010 efforts!

-C3

Summit!!!

Columbia Crest - 14,410' Summit of Mt. Rainier

July 1, 2009 6:32 am PST

On the morning of July 1, 2009, at approxmimately 6:30 am, the final of 17 climbers from the southern Maine fundraising syndicate known as Climb for Cancer Care stood atop the tallest point in Washington State, Mt. Rainier. 100% success for any climbing expedition is quite rare on a peak that turns its back on 50% of all suitors vying for the summit. The fact that these were 17 amateurs of varying experience, climbing as a vehicle for raising funds and awareness for cancer patients at the Marshall L. and Susan Gibson Pavilion at Maine Medical Center in Portland, ME, made the achievement all that more staggering.

As of this posting, approximately $31,500 was raised during the 2009 endeavour. We will continue to update our final totals as those numbers become available to us.

While each story was specific, personal, and intimate, the overall patriarch of Climb for Cancer Care, "Rockin'" Rodney Scribner, was once again honored at the top with a toast of Miller High Life, of course. Scribner, the uncle of Climb for Cancer Care's founder, Pat Connolly, lost his courageous 2.5 year battle with bladder cancer on March 7, 2005. With 3 climbs now in the books, Climb for Cancer Care has raised over $60,000 in Scribner's name to the Marshall L. and Susan Gibson Pavilion at Maine Medical Center.

In the press

Check out these recent articles about your favorite climbing non-profit:

Portland Press Herald: Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=263968&ac=PHnws

-C3

56 Days...

56 Days to go...

It always blows my mind when getting ready for an expedition.  Time seems to distort itself without warning.  It seems like mere moments ago, I took over the living room packing all of my equipment for the 2008 endeavour.  Suddenly it seems, it's May 4th, 2009, and 18 of us are looking at our objective a quickly closing 8 weeks away.  

Certainly, every time that departure dates creep ever closer, my mind starts running constantly and somewhat frantically: have the vans been reserved?  What will the weather be like?  How is my fitness and focus?  Have we raised enough money yet?  While some of these questions are easier than others to answer, they nevertheless continuously play through my mind like some irritating clip show.

The nicer weather does quite a bit to help out.  Seemingly endless miles spent on the treadmill turn their way to running outside.  Suffering through the roll-of-the-dice weather of training climbs on Mt. Washington lend themselves to longer, nicer days of mountaineering (for Mt. Washington, anyway).  Money which has been a slow trickle (note: $12,000 thus far has been raised) so far will begin to flood the donation pages and mailbox at the office.  

To be certain, the next 56 days will scream by, time distorting itself into a greater frenzy.  Before anyone realizes it, we'll be boarding our flight, saying goodbye to family and friends for a week, and start our journey, mindful of the fact that we'll have raised at least $30,000.

56 days.  Wow.

One Fish, Two Fish, Climb Fish, DogFish!

Join Climb for Cancer Care with Allagash Brewing Company at both DogFish locations all March long!  For every pint of sweet, sweet, Allagash beer you buy, $.10 will be donated to Climb for Cancer Care.  When was the last time philanthropy tasted so damn good?  Climbers from this year's team will be in and out of both locations on Tuesday, March 3rd for our big kickoff, when Allagash and DogFish will throw down $1 for every appetizer and Allagash pint you enjoy.  Spread the word - Happy Hour can happen on Tuesday afternoons too you know...

-Climb for Cancer Care

Charlie Biegg's Benefit Night 2/27

Friday, February 27th from 9:30 p.m. 'til Close

Climb for Cancer Care is proud to announce the official kickoff party of the 2009 season!  On Friday, February 27th, local restaurant Charlie Biegg's in North Windham will be starting the fundraising season for Climb for Cancer Care.  Come on out and meet this year's team of climbers while enjoying great food, drink, and live music!  Speaking of the food, Charlie Biegg's will donate a percentage of bar food sales to your friendly neighborhood non-profit, so bring your appetite!  There will be raffles and even a silent auction, so you could go home with more than you originally bargained for!  

The Climb for Cancer Care team will be there throughout the night enjoying the good times withe everyone, as well as accepting donations and selling our outstanding "Care Wear" to those who are truly on board with our cause.  

As always, thanks for your continued support of Climb for Cancer Care.  

-Pat

A Day With Kevin Mahoney

Kevin Mahoney showing Pat and Aaron how it's done

Hanging Gardens - Frankenstein Cliff, NH

People often ask, "What do you do for training?"  This question usually elicits the same answer - lots of cardiovascular endurance work, weight lifting, solid nutrition, blah, blah.  While this is the basis of any solid mountaineering training regimen, sometimes, you have to have as much fun as possible to train for the mountains.  Ice climbing  has long been a passion of mine and offers a tremendous way to train both mind and body.  Plus, it's a badass way of having fun in the winter.  On Monday 2/16, Aaron Tardiff and myself were able to spend the day with Kevin Mahoney - a local guide based out of Madison, New Hampshire.  (www.newhampshireiceclimbing.com).  

We spent our day at Frankenstein Cliff in Crawford Notch, NH.  More specifically, we were climbing in a particular arena known as 'The Hanging Gardens".  Hiking up the path to this area was a mental shot - curtains of ice not quite touching the ground, including one free-standing pillar with a 3 inch gap in the middle of it!  Kevin offered the sage advice and demonstrated the technique of how to climb ice of this nature.  With multiple ropes and ascents going on (mostly by Aaron and Kevin as I forgot to pack my endurance Monday - still a blast though...), the day flew by.

The climax of the day was watching Kevin climb the 5+ "Without Reason" - essentially linking 3 separate blobs of ice together into 1 climb.  Watching Kevin delicately maneuver the climb was impressive.  Aaron Tardiff, my climbing partner for the last few years, seemed to be licking his chops in anticipation of stepping onto this climb.  His face showed that there was no doubt he was  going to accept anything less than topping out on this.  With strength, determination, and some stellar coaching from Kevin, Aaron nailed it!  Exhausted and a little shaky from the endeavor of sending the climb, Aaron was entirely elated the remainder of the day.

Aaron gettin' after it on the last of 3 icicles which forms "Without Reason" NEI 5+

Like any activity in the mountains, ice climbing is about who you spend your time with and how much fun you have.  Enjoying friendships, the terrain, and of course, the activity itself make for a truly amazing day of training.  When all of these variables blend together, it makes a day of training seem more like a day hanging out.  

To see more pictures of ice escapades and hijinkx, check out: climbforcancercare.ning.com/pictures

-Pat

Serendipitous Sponsor

Climb for Cancer Care would like to proudly announce our first sponsor of our 2009 endeavor, Pine State Trading Co.  Aside from being New England's leading full service wholesale distributor, Pine State Trading Co. has the new honor of attaining Camp Muir sponsorship value for the 2009 Climb for Cancer Care.

What makes this sponsorship so special is that Pine State Trading Co. was the former employer of our namesake, Rod Scribner.  This was overlooked by both of our organizations for some time, but when 2 and 2 were put together, Keith Canning of PSTC and Pat Connolly of C3 certainly had a jovial conversation about how fitting the connection truly was.

For more information on our great new sponsor, visit here: www.pinestatetrading.com.