Note from Stacey

Felix, I really appreciate your work on the website, and sponsoring Joshua! I am looking forward to posting pictures again. Thanks to our sponsors, hard-working climbers and volunteers, and the warm-hearted climbing community, the Mount Everest Challenge 2005 was a great success. The 34 climbers lifted my spirits 42,180 feet. That’s the height of Mt. Everest(29,035 feet) and then some! It was a terrific way to celebrate my first year of life after the transplant. The donations are still coming in. So far, I know the climbers raised over $6500, including $540 towards a trip to the U.S. Transplant Games in Louisville, Kentucky, June 16-21. However, I think the grand total might be closer to $7000 or $8000 by the time everyone is done collecting from their sponsors. The Lam Foundation also raised $325 from the rope raffle and wreath sales in our search for a cure. There were 20 adult climbers and 14 kids. Planet Granite Youth Team had the highest amount of vertical footage (8648′), Twisters came in second (3800′), and the Summit Party from Touchstone came in third (3080′). I was especially happy to see members of my old team there (Joshua Levin, Blake Tacklind, Tevis Nichols, and Heather Ostrau.) Joshua Levin was the highest youth fundraiser (over $500) and youth climber with the most vertical feet (4182′) which was also second overall. PG Member Kathy Alberts was the highest fundraiser. She raised $1840 in 5 days, and had 52 sponsors. Joshua Pendergrass, from Twisters, climbed the greatest number of vertical feet (4400′) and was also the highest fundraiser from Twisters, bringing in $515. Greg Schaffer, one of the owners of Planet Granite, was the biggest individual donor ($1000.) I’d also like to thank the generous volunteers, especially special guest climbers Hans Florine and Scott Cory, who on-sighted the hardest route (13b)in the gym during the event. Their movie, “Wall Rats,” was very interesting. Jennifer Cory did a great job with the silent auction, and Sandy Ostrau did beautiful work on the t-shirts. Dave Allen, Carrie Levin, Stephanie Rowe, Robert Breyer and PG manager Lucas Marciniak, and Twisters manager Jess McCauley were all instrumental in making the event a success. Thanks also to the T-shirt sponsors: Planet Granite Climbing Gym, Twisters Climbing Gym, Medical Plaza Pharmacy, Turner Designs Hydrocarbon Instruments, Alala Women’s Mountain Adventures, and the Original Underwhere Company. Stacey, from Belmont