Sunday, November 09, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
Memorial Climb for Life to benefit ovarian cancer groups
Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Nevada, HERA Women's Cancer Foundation joining for fund-raiser
By JOAN WHITELY
REVIEW-JOURNAL
The second annual HERA Ovarian Cancer Climb for Life will take place Saturday. It is a joint benefit for the National HERA Women's Cancer Foundation and the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Nevada.
The event is in memory of Crispin Morrison, a Las Vegan who founded the alliance after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1999 at age 39. She died in May. The alliance continues its work: promoting early diagnosis of ovarian cancer by educating women and medical professional about the symptoms, which are fairly vague and historically have been overlooked or misinterpreted.
The organization sends speakers to women's groups, attends health fairs, leads continuing-education classes for medical professionals, distributes cards that list ovarian symptoms and has a monthly support-group meeting.
Before Morrison's death, she helped plan last year's Cancer Climb for Life. The 2003 Climb for Life will take place at the PowerHouse Climbing Center, 8201 W. Charleston Blvd. The Las Vegas climbs mirror an annual event in Salt Lake City in September, which is sponsored by HERA.
Participants on Saturday must pay $20 for equipment and climbing time. They will climb indoor climbing routes that are assigned a point value based on the distance traversed. The goal is for climbers to gather enough points to "summit" Mount Wilson, which at 6,068 feet elevation is the most prominent peak in the Red Rock area.
Prizes will be awarded for men and women in three categories: first-time climber, beginner/intermediate and "rock star" advanced.
The benefit also offers the opportunity to take a guided hike at Red Rock National Conservation Area, led by a guide from Sky's the Limit Guide Service. Hikers should gather at PowerHouse at 9:45 a.m. for a morning hike, or at 12:45 p.m. for an afternoon hike. The guide will choose an easier hike or a more ambitious "cardio-workout" hike based on the turnout.
Joining the hike costs $20. People who want to do both the hike and indoor climb can do so for $35.
A portion of the proceeds will go to Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Nevada. Executive director Christina Harris said proceeds will help put on a "quality of life" event for female cancer survivors in spring, which may include massages and other services.
"It's all about feeling good and being happy. It's not about being sick" is how Harris describes the spring event.
The Nevada alliance is a partner organization with HERA in the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. The alliance's founder, Morrison, personally knew Sean Patrick, who founded HERA, which raises money for medical research into ovarian cancer. Both women had ovarian cancer; they also shared a love of hiking and rock climbing. Patrick lives in Colorado.
The Climb for Life will also feature raffles throughout the day, with prizes donated from such makers of outdoor sports equipment and clothing as Patagonia, Black Diamond, Oakley and North Face. Businesses that promote fitness such as 24-Hour Fitness also have donated prizes.
Raffle tickets are on sale at PowerHouse Climbing Center and Desert Rock Sports, at the same address.
The Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Nevada, which began in June 2000, has been selected as the charity that will be the recipient of proceeds from the next Women of Distinction awards banquet, sponsored by the Nevada Association of Women Business Owners in March, Harris says.
Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of gynecological cancers, according to the alliance's information card. It occurs in one out of 55 women. Early detection can improve survival rates to more than 90 percent. Symptoms can include: bloating, a feeling of fullness, frequent or urgent urination, pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, chronic fatigue, irregular menstrual periods and constipation, diarrhea or gas.
