A History of Climb Against the Odds
Climb Against the Odds, the Breast Cancer Fund's mountain expeditions to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer prevention, began in 1995 with a group of 17 women — all breast cancer survivors — who climbed Argentina's Mt. Aconcagua (23,000 feet), the highest peak outside the Himalayas.
The Breast Cancer Fund has since led teams of women and men up Mt. McKinley, Mt. Fuji, Mt. Shasta and Mt. Rainier. They have all faced the mountain as we face our goal of eliminating the environmental causes of breast cancer: one step at a time.
Next July, a new crop of mountaineers — breast cancer survivors, their friends and family members — will face California's Mt. Shasta, a formidable mountain of 14,162 feet. These 40 men and women will challenge the mountain, themselves and a disease that now touches one in every eight women.
Climb Against the Odds: Mt. Shasta 2009
On June 24, 2009, a team of 28 inspiring breast cancer survivors and individuals affected by the disease scaled the 14,162-foot Mt.  Shasta in Northern California for breast cancer prevention. The 2009 Climb Against the Odds team was comprised of both women and men - ranging in age from 27 to 62 - from nine states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. Of the 28 climbers, seven were cancer survivors.
The team began their ascent of Mt. Shasta on Tuesday afternoon, leaving from the trailhead for Hidden Valley base camp at 9,400 feet. The team departed base camp in rope teams of five to six people between 2 and 4 a.m. on Wednesday morning. By noon, 21 of the 28 climbers had reached the summit at 14,162 feet, and everyone had safely returned to base camp by 5 p.m. After a night of rest, the team returned to the town of Mt. Shasta to celebrate with friends, family and the local community.
In addition to training and climbing, the team took part in extensive fundraising for prevention. This year’s Climb Against the Odds raised over $450,000 for the Breast Cancer Fund.
Climb Against the Odds 2009 was the Breast Cancer Fund’s 10th team of breast survivors and supporters to climb for prevention, and the sixth team to climb on Mt. Shasta.
Meet the 2009 team »
View photos of Climb Against the Odds 2009 »
Climb Against the Odds: Mt. Shasta 2008
From June 15-22, 2008, Climb Against the Odds brought together 33 women and men for the Mt.  Shasta expedition to move past the devastating experience of breast cancer and to work toward prevention of the disease. The team of breast cancer survivors and supporters hailed from nine state − California, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire − and Washington D.C., Canada and Japan.
Each incredible climber began the journey for a different reason, but together they reached extraordinary heights. For the first time in the history of Climb Against the Odds, almost every climber reached the summit – only two climbers completed their expeditions below the 14,162-foot peak – and everyone made it back safely.
Together, they also raised over $500,000 for the Breast Cancer Fund’s work to eliminate the environment causes of the disease.
Meet the 2008 team »
View photos of Climb Against the Odds 2008 »
Climb Against the Odds: Mt. Shasta 2007
 The 2007 climb brought 36 people together from across the U.S. and as far away as Hungary from July 8 to 14 for a summit attempt they would not soon forget. A boulder fall on the unusually thin cover of snow threatened the team's safety and turned two-thirds of the group around at 6 a.m., allowing only 12 team members to reach the peak's summit that day. Because of the team's quick response to the falling rock, and the truly selfless, professional actions of our Shasta Mountain Guides, there were no major injuries.
This incredible team faced the challenge and their own fear as many had faced cancer: with grace and strength. For the 2007 team, the summit was truly in the journey.
Meet the 2007 team »
Read news coverage »
See photos »
Read the 2007 final report »
Climb Against the Odds: Mt. Shasta 2006
 Just after 1 a.m. July 10, 2006, the Breast Cancer Fund achieved a first: every climber from the team departed base camp and headed up the mountain. Under clear skies, 28 of those 35 women and men reached the summit of Mt. Shasta's 14,162-foot peak during a grueling 14-hour day. Whether they reached 10,000, 12,000 or 14,000 feet, each of these courageous individuals reached a personal summit.
The team ranged in age from 18 to 68 years, and journeyed to the small town of Shasta, Calif. from Colorado, Japan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and, of course, California.
The 2006 team collectively raised more than $600,000 for the Breast Cancer Fund, which will go toward education and advocacy efforts to eliminate the environmental causes of this devastating disease.
Meet the 2006 team »
See photos »
Read the final report »
Climb Against the Odds: Mt. Rainier 2005
 The mountain demonstrated her unpredictable nature during this year's Climb Against the Odds~Mt. Rainier. The first team of 22 climbers enjoyed one of the best days for weather this year, banding together to boost 15 of their members to the summit. The second climb team of 15 awoke on summit day to hail, snow, thunder and lightning on the mountain. As the support team waited anxiously at base camp, climbers faced one of the wildest, wettest, coldest days of their lives. Against all odds, three climbers stood on the summit. To the relief of all the friends, family, team members and Breast Cancer Fund staff assembled in Ashford, Wash. and across the country, all 37 climbers made it down the mountain safely.
Climbers hailed from Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and Japan. Among them are breast cancer survivors, women currently undergoing treatment, family, friends and others touched by the disease.
Each climber endured a rigorous training regimen and an average of more than $9,000 each.
Meet the 2005 climbers »
See photos »
Read one climber's account of the summit »
Download the complete report on the expedition »
Climb Against the Odds: Mt. Shasta 2004
The first week of July 2004, 24 breast cancer survivors and supporters celebrated the Breast Cancer Fund's fifth major mountain climb expedition, Climb Against the Odds ~ Mt. Shasta. Each team member found his or her own personal summit as 12 women and men — including four breast cancer survivors — reached the peak at 14,162 feet. This inspirational group raised over $350,000 for the Breast Cancer Fund’s programs to eliminate the environmental causes of the disease.
In the words of one climber:
"This year my journey with the Breast Cancer Fund (before the climb, the time on the mountain, and the after climb ceremonies and training) has taught me so much about teamwork, community and connection.
"In the past I have usually done things independently and somehow not felt connected. For me personally, the physical and emotional experience of the climb, with each step and each breath, effectively stripped away my defenses and along with it my sense of separateness. The time on the mountain and with my team has shown me just how deeply interconnected and interdependent we are. I have seen how each one of us played unique roles: the visionaries, the contributors, the supporters, the climbers, etc. As I contribute to something, I am in turn enriched by what I helped create.
"The power of our common vision, the vulnerability involved in the climb, the support and love available, the presence of nature and the power of the mountain all combined to transform me. I am inspired as I open to greater service and imagine all the possibilities!"
~ Jeannette Rothweiler, 2004 Climb Team Member
Meet the 2004 climbers »
Climb Against the Odds: Mt. Shasta 2003
The Breast Cancer Fund is proud to announce the success of our Climb Against the Odds - Mt. Shasta expedition. In early July 2003, a team of 47 breast cancer survivors and others whose lives have been affected by the disease took on the 14,162-foot Mt. Shasta to make their vision of preventing breast cancer a reality.
Ranging in age from 27 to 77 years old, our amazing climbers came from across the country for the intense challenge on Mt. Shasta, California, an imposing volcano close to the Oregon border. Thanks to the climber's dedicated training and our skilled guides, all 47 climbers returned safely and all reached their own personal summit — regardless of how far they climbed the mountain.
The strength and spirit of each individual was an inspiration to the staff and family of the Breast Cancer Fund. Far surpassing the expectations and hopes for the expedition, the team raised over $665,000 in support of the Breast Cancer Fund's mission to identify — and advocate for elimination of — the environmental and other preventable causes of the disease.
Climb Against the Odds: Mt. Fuji 2000
In August 2000, 60 women and men touched by breast cancer partnered with approximately 300 Japanese cancer survivors and climbed to the summit of Mt. Fuji (12,389 ft.). Climb Against the Odds ~ Mt. Fuji took place over two days, culminating with the spectacular panoramic sunrise in the early hours of the second morning.
American Team:
Team Members, Supporters and Staff: 78
Total number to reach summit: 69
Breast Cancer Survivors: 30
Demographics: 14 States and 2 countries
Ages: Youngest - 7; Oldest - 70
Elevation at Summit: 12,389 feet
Japanese Team:
Team Members, Supporters and Staff: 400
Number of cancer survivors to reach summit: 122
Cancer Survivors: 136
Demographics: 14 cities
Ages: Youngest - 10; Oldest – 70
Climb Against the Odds: Mt. McKinley 1998
In June 1998, two teams of women — one a group of breast cancer survivors, another a group of young women determined to lower the odds for all women — climbed Alaska's Mt. McKinley (also know as Denali), just below the Arctic Circle. The conditions they faced on one of the world's most treacherous mountains were the worst in decades. An award-winning documentary, Climb Against the Odds, was produced about the inspiring and challenging effort.
Climb Against the Odds: Mt. Aconcagua 1995
In 1995, the first team, Expedition Inspiration, a group of 17 breast cancer survivors turned mountaineers, accomplished the unimaginable when six team members stood on the ominous summit of Argentina's Mt. Aconcagua, at 23,000 feet, the highest peak outside the Himalayas. This was the Breast Cancer Fund's first mountain climb challenge to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer prevention. These climbs allow us to shout from the mountaintops to change how we think and act about breast cancer, and to honor all breast cancer survivors. The effort of these climbers was inspiring and visionary to those of us who walk in their footsteps to climb against the odds, today and in the future.
“The best stories are those about the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. These stories awaken the hero inside each of us, propel us to reach beyond self-imposed limits and inspire us to move mountains — or, climb them.”
~Andrea Gabbard
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