Posted July 5, 2007
“Standing at 27,200’ on the icy slopes of Mount Everest in 2003, I lectured myself between gags that this was it. No more. I was too old and my body was just not fit for high altitude mountaineering. After all, it was only 363 days earlier that I had stood on this exact same spot suffering convulsions and made my own decision to return to the South Col before it was too late. Those experiences have come to shape my life in ways I never imagined. They are memories I hope to never forget. And now I’m going back.”
Thus writes mountain climber Alan Arnette. Alan, recently retired, is embarking on a year-long challenge to climb Mt. Everest and raise $100,000 for Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.
Alan’s journey starts this month with an attempt of Denali, and then continues to Shishapangma in October 2007, Orizaba in January 2008, and Everest in April 2008. In between he will be climbing 14 of the Colorado 14ers. Dispatches from his climbs and progress on his� mountaineering and fundraising are posted on his web site.
Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s has touched Alan’s life personally. His mother is 81 and suffering from the disease. He hopes his journey back to Everest, and his accompanying website, will generate not only funds for continued research but also increased awareness of the disease. For more about his personal experiences with the disease, visit the Memories are Everything web page. Live dispatches from his Denali climb will start on June 12th.
Donations for Alan’s campaign can be made directly to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund. Please note that the donation is for Memories are Everything. Like all gifts for Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, every dollar donated to Memories are Everything will directly support Alzheimer’s research. Alan’s mountaineering is self-funded, and overhead costs for Cure Alzheimer’s Fund are paid in full by its founders.
