Our Goal:
To raise $1,000,000 for
research and public education
about prostate cancer.
research and public education
about prostate cancer.
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| Our Goal: To raise $1,000,000 for research and public education about prostate cancer. | |
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John Loesing, Project Director Dr. Terry Weyman, Founder |
PROSTATE CANCER CLIMB
Reaching for New Heights in Prostate Cancer Research Early next week, a small group of adventuresome souls will leave their homes in the U.S. and head for Africa. On September 14, they will start a 6-day climb toward the 19,340-foot summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to raise money for prostate cancer research. The 25 men and women all have some connection to prostate cancer. Five of the climbers are survivors themselves.
“Those of use who are survivors owe our lives to research done in past years and we might be instrumental in saving some men in the future if we can help finance additional research,” Shafer said when asked why he’s making this trek. Shafer has been through a rigorous schedule of hormone and radiation therapy for his cancer. The last two times his PSA (prostate specific antigen) was tested, it was “virtually zero.” So he’s feeling fit for the physical challenges facing him next month. “I don’t expect to make the summit but if I can go and add my little bit to this project, that’s my aim,” he said. Dr. Tom Hyde is the expedition leader for the 2003 Prostate Cancer Climb
on Mt. Kilimanjaro. Even healthy climbers have physical problems at high altitude, but a man on active anti-cancer medication or whose surgery has affected his lymph system can face special challenges. The higher altitudes muddle the thinking, and the lungs can fill with fluid, for instance. “The key is going very slowly,” Hyde tells cancerpage. “You have to watch everyone but especially those who are prostate cancer survivors and those on medications.” But these cancer survivors, Hyde says are courageous men who speak volumes to others diagnosed with serious illness. “Set yourself a challenge, a goal that is tough to reach but not impossible to reach… and to show others hey! you can do it.” This year’s trek hopes to raise $100,000 for prostate cancer education and research. They’re well below their goal, and Hyde blames the slow economy. “We’ve been a little disappointed, we’re up around $50,000 right now which is a lot less than we had hoped for.”
For more information about the Mt Kilimanjaro Prostate Cancer Climb, click here.
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At age 75, Art Shafer is the oldest member of the expedition; he’s
also a prostate cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer
a year and a half ago. While he’s not a climber or a particularly
athletic person, he told cancerpage, he’s attempting this climb
for all the men who follow him with a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
