Breast Cancer Fund celebrates 10 years scaling Mt. Shasta

For the tenth time this June, Breast Cancer Fund will hold their annual Climb Against the Odds fundraiser on the slopes of Mt. Shasta.

Etna’s Jen Bray, an employee of the US Forest Service, has been selected as this year’s local climber. One hundred percent of the money Bray raises for her June 16-21 climb will aid local women touched by the disease through Breast Cancer Services of Siskiyou County.

“I am inspired by survivors of cancer and the strength and passion they have for life and I vow to do more to eliminate this disease... for my children’s children,” said Bray, who also raised funds and summitted Mt. Shasta last year during the climb.

At the Mount Shasta Chamber of Commerce meeting Thursday, past climbers, supporters and board members of BCSSC presented information about the fundraiser and ways local businesses can help.

Linda Chitwood explained Breast Cancer Fund is unique because it concentrates on preventing breast cancer rather than just finding a cure by working to eliminate exposure to toxic chemicals and radiation linked to the disease.

The BCSSC was founded in 2003 and is solely supported by funds raised during the climb. The organization helps women with uncovered medical or prescription costs, insurance deductibles and transportation. They also fund visits to local therapists for families and patients diagnosed with breast cancer and memberships for survivors at Mountain Fitness, said breast cancer survivor, BCSSC board member and former climber Terry Thompson.

Other past Climb Against the Odds participants include Thompson, Jenn Carr and Nancy Swift in 2003; Annie Bowles in 2004; Melinda Barnes in 2006; Anna Antonowich in 2007; Hillie Crowfoot in 2008; Karen Pautz in 2010, Paul Engstrom in 2011 and Alisa Johnson in 2012.

Swift told Chamber members she climbed 10 years ago with her mother, who is a breast cancer survivor. She said summitting the mountain is not the important part of the climb; it’s reaching your own personal summit.

Chitwood said the climb is a metaphor for the heights we must go to defeat breast cancer.

Over the years, more than $100,000 has been raised through the efforts of local climbers for Siskiyou County residents.

Bray’s climb

Though she’s never been affected by breast cancer personally, Bray said she’s participating in Climb Against the Odds again because she believes in Breast Cancer Fund.

She pointed out that 93 percent of funds raised for BCF go toward preventing breast cancer, and only seven percent is used for administration.

“It’s an honor to be the community climber,” Bray told chamber members gathered at Lalo’s Thursday afternoon, March 14. “I had to come back.”

“I encourage you to sponsor me because we can change our world together, one step and one dollar at a time,” Bray says on her personal Climb Against the Odds website page. “Please help me to raise awareness of the preventable causes of breast cancer. I will carry a prayer flag with the name of your loved one with a gift of $100 or more, but any amount is appreciated. Your honoree can be anyone, alive or passed, whose life has been touched by any type of cancer. It is believed that as the wind passes over their surface, the prayers are blown to spread their message of hope throughout the world.”

Her goal is to raise $15,000. To make a donation to Bray’s effort, go to http://prevention.breastcancerfund.org/goto/jenbray

If a woman is in need of services from BCSSC, they can contact Thompson at the Mt. Shasta Library by calling 926-2031 or go online to www.breastcancersiskiyou.org