The Breast Cancer Fund has a long tradition of organizing challenging, inspiring events to support their fundraising and awareness work. They have been responsible for organizing climbs, biking events, kayaking trips, walks and runs and have raised money to become a powerful advocate for breast cancer prevention efforts

Climb Against the Odds is a mountain expedition for breast cancer survivors, supporters and other people impacted by the disease. This journey is both a collective effort to prevent breast cancer and a personal challenge to beat the disease.

The climb is one of the BCF's signature events to raise funding and increase awareness of breast cancer prevention. These inspiring mountain expeditions were first conceived in 1995 when 17 breast cancer survivors climbed Mt. Aconcagua, the highest peak outside the Himalayas. Since then, the Breast Cancer Fund has led six subsequent expeditions to Mt. Shasta, Mt. McKinley, Mt Fuji, and Mt. Rainier.

As part of the application process to be apart of the expedition, participants commit to pre-climb training, attending a basic mountaineering course and raise at least $5,000 for their participation entry fee. In return, participants get training advice to help prepare for the trip, fundraising advice, expert mountaineering guides, logistical support, accommodations, and food. Plus the women and men get an incredible experience to climb along side fellow cancer survivors and supporter.

In May 2006, Carol Mellberg of Los Gatos, Calif., was diagnosed with breast cancer and for a time her life came to a halt. A former college tennis player and now tennis pro said she was the healthiest woman she knew when she her illness was discovered. Now, a year later, Mellberg is working as an art therapist and is looking forward to scaling the highest mountain in Northern California.

"I have experienced a certain clarity that comes after the confusion of this kind of diagnosis and life-altering experience," Mellberg said. "I have learned a great deal about myself and breast cancer and am motivated to learn more and contribute where I can."

Although Mellberg's maternal grandmother died of breast cancer, just one in 10 breast cancer cases can be attributed to genetic factors, and a growing body of evidence links the disease to environmental causes. The Breast Cancer Fund works to inspire women, corporations and decision-makers to question the chemicals people put in and on their bodies everyday.

Fisch became involved with the organization as a supporter of two-time climber Sherry Miller of Reno, Nev., who died of metastatic breast cancer on May 1. Miller was 52. "My friend Sherry Miller is an absolute inspiration to me," said Fisch. "Her work with the Breast Cancer Fund is what had me filling out the application."

"I want to do the best I can for the Breast Cancer Fund, because prevention is key for the generations to come. This is the least I can do to honor those that I know and have known with breast cancer," said the Reno based climber

Sherry Miller was featured in several GLBT publications honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October 2006. She attempted Mt. Rainier, Wash., in 2005 and summitted Mt. Shasta in 2006 with the Climb Against the Odds team.

"Sherry Miller was generous, an amazing advocate and fiercely determined to change the world," said Jeanne Rizzo, R.N., executive director of the Breast Cancer Fund. "Sherry, Becky and Carol are all helping us figure out what causes this devastating disease and how to prevent it in future generations."

Breast Cancer is one of the leading causes of death for women in the United States and organizations like the Breast Cancer Fund are instrumental in helping to raise money to find a cure. Allowing the opportunity for these women to achieve such powerful goals give survivors an opportunity to let their stories be told and to act as inspiration for other women. It is important that the gay community realizes that disease knows no color, race, gender, or sexual orientation and these brave women should be applauded for bringing awareness of that fact to our community.

For more information on the environmental connection to breast cancer, or to be apart of the climb visit www.breastcancerfund.org .

Or email Connie George at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

Until next time!