There are all kinds of fundraisers aimed at fighting cancer, and most of them seem to be of the “fun run” variety. Well, if you’re into rock climbing and want to help, then Team First Descents will be inviting climbers across the country to participate in the 4th Annual Climb-a-thon on March 2, 2013.
First Descents is a Denver-based non-profit that provides free outdoor adventures to young adults fighting and surviving cancer, and this year’s Climb-a-thon will be a nationwide fundraiser with climbing events in twelve different states.
According to a press release, this event will honor the 70,000 young adults diagnosed with cancer each year. To do that, Team First Descents hopes to climb a total of 70,000 vertical feet during the one-day Climb-a-thon. A minimum of $25 will get climbers entrance into participating climbing gyms on March 2nd. The idea is to spend the day climbing for fun, raise funds and raise awareness of young adults with cancer.
“While we love to get outside on the rocks during our First Descents climbing programs, this is the perfect time of year to take it inside at the gym and climb hard with friends for a good cause,” says First Descents director of marketing Rebekah Koenigbauer. “This is an excellent way to kick off our Team First Descents season of challenges. It’s great to know that for one Saturday, people all over the country will be climbing for the same important purpose.”
So chalk up those hands, squeeze into those climbing shoes, and see if there’s a climbing gym near you that is participating. Here in Utah, Rockreation is hosting the First Descents Climb-a-thon from 9am to 12pm.
For more information, visit www.firstdescents.org
Participating Climb-a-thon locations:
RockReation, Los Angeles, CA –; 10am – 2pm
Planet Granite, San Francisco, CA –; 10am – 1pm
Boulder Rock Club, Boulder, CO –; 12pm – 3pm
Rock’n and Jam’n, Denver, CO – 12pm – 4pm
Stone Age Rock Gym, Manchester, CT –; 11am – 2pm
Climb Time Indy, Indianapolis, IN –; 9am – 12pm
Rock Spot Climbing, Boston, MA –; 9am – 12pm
Brooklyn Boulders, Brooklyn, NY –; 11am- 2pm
Inner Peaks, Charlotte, NC –; 4pm – 7pm
Triangle Rock Club, Raleigh, NC –; 9am – 12pm
Portland Rock Gym, Portland, OR –; 11am – 2pm
Go Vertical, Philadelphia, PA –; 11:30am – 2:30pm
Rock Spot Climbing, Lincoln, RI – 9am – 12pm
Rock Spot Climbing, Peace Dale, RI – 9am – 12pm
River Sports Outfitters, Knoxville, TN – 9am – 12pm
Rockreation, Salt Lake City, UT – 9am – 12pm
More locations TBA, please check http://teamfd.firstdescents.org/2013/fd/climbathon/ for more information.