Categories: EventsFeatures

American Lung Association’s Climb for Clean Air

Janet Ruzich enjoyes the view. The reasons for choosing to fundraise and climb with us are as individual as the climbers themselves. Some are motivated by watching close friends and family struggle with severe lung disease; others climb in celebration of what they can do. Others yet smile and say they climb the mountain "because it's there."

January 12th. Coordinators from the American Lung Association are recruiting Mountain Climbers. They hosted a meeting at the Clackamas REI to answer questions about their big event: Climb for Clean Air/Reach the Summit. It’s a mountaineering training and fundraising program benefiting the American Lung Association.

Funds raised by participants will support the American Lung Association of the Mountain Pacific’s mission of saving lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease.

Participating climbers are given the training needed to successfully summit some of the region’s mountains ( Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams or the Grand Teton) while working with the American Lung Association to raise awareness and funds for the nonprofit’s programs and research.

Andrea Fidel climbed Mt. Hood last year for the program. More than 100 people will summit some of the most breathtaking mountains in America as members of the 2012 Summit team. Most participants will be novice climbers who want to achieve this dream in a team setting with no prior experience raising money for a nonprofit.

Katie Williams

A participant’s story: After her stepfather’s death in August 2004, Katie Williams heard about the this event and climbed Mt. Hood in 2008. In her words: My family has a long history of lung disease and cancer. Both my maternal grandparents died of lung cancer and I myself had lung problems as the result of a smoking habit that began at the very young age of 14. I repeatedly got chronic bronchitis every year, which made it very difficult to breathe. It wasn’t until after both my mother’s parents died of lung cancer and my own progressive problems that I decided to quit at age 24, and never went back. In addition to this both my husband Jim and I have lost our moms to cancer and a very close friend of my stepdaughter suffers from asthma. It’s all around us and I am committed to doing something to make a difference. My motivation to make this climb is the memory of all our loved ones who are suffering or have lost their battle with these debilitating diseases, and raising funds and awareness for the American Lung Association. My climb was truly a “mountain top” experience and one I will never forget.

Team
Statistics:

Raised over $4 million for the American Lung Association
The average fundraising amount is $3,928 per participant
53% female to 47% male team ratio

Barb Jenkins who scaled Mt. Hood with the program several years ago explaines,” Reach The Summit was a life-changing experience for me. I have made great friends and been on many adventures that I never thought possible before I climbed with the American Lung Association.”

This YouTube video shows the exciting climb!

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.