By JAN HOGAN VIEW STAFF WRITER By LAUREN ROMANO VIEW STAFF WRITER
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Here's a fundraiser that will have people climbing the walls -- literally.
The fourth annual Climb for Life, an upcoming ovarian cancer fundraiser event, is planned for Saturday and Sunday at Red Rock Climbing Center, 8201 W. Charleston Blvd. Proceeds will benefit both the Health Empowerment Research and Advocacy (HERA) Women's Cancer Foundation and the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Nevada (OCAN). The event officially begins at 9:30 a.m.
Novices as well as experienced rock climbers are encouraged to participate. Climbers from Oregon, Utah, Wyoming and California are registered to attend.
Each time Climb for Life is held, it expands its offerings a little bit more. This time, it includes a full schedule of clinics and workshops conducted by pro-athletes from around the country.
Clinics include: Learn to Climb with Tiffany Campbell and Rebeckah Berry; Up the Ante ... Improve Your Climbing & Bouldering with Joe Kinder & Bryan O'Keefe; Ladies Only with Stephanie Forte and Alli Rainey; and Dynamic Movement ... How to Climb Tall with Lisa Hathaway.
Roadrunner is hosting the party Saturday night and Misty Murphy, fresh from an East Coast concert series, will perform live.
Personal fundraising is optional, but anyone who raises at least $250 has a chance to win climbing gear and prizes from local businesses like free massages, dinners and show tickets.
The event may be full of fun, but the underlying cause is serious business. Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death among women in America. More than 16,000 women will die this year alone and more than 25,500 will be diagnosed.
"Until there's a cure women need to be aware that ovarian cancer does have symptoms, even in its early stages. And that their annual pap test does not screen for ovarian cancer," said Forte, the event organizer who in 2005 was named one of America's top 10 female climbers by Rock & Ice Magazine.
The symptoms of ovarian cancer are often subtle and often ignored. They include: abdominal pressure, bloating, or discomfort; nausea, indigestion, or gas; urinary frequency, constipation, or diarrhea; abnormal bleeding, unusual fatigue; unexplained weight loss or gain; shortness of breath.
When Climb for Life was first held, in 2002, it raised $3,000. Last year's event raised $10,000.
The art club at Garehime Elementary School has been about more than paint strokes, sketches and sculptures in the last few weeks. The fourth- and fifth-grade students have been spending their club time creating theater masks to help bring awareness to ovarian cancer, the fourth leading cancer death among women.
"We're helping to bring awareness," said Erin Sawhill, Garehime's art teacher. "If (women) know the symptoms they can go to the doctor."
The 57 masks the children have designed, painted and decorated represent the fact that one in 57 women get ovarian cancer.
"It feels really good to help other people and make them aware before they get it," said Blair Bouree, a fifth-grader.
The masks will be displayed on a 4-by-8-foot awareness ribbon at the fourth annual Climb for Life on Saturday at the Red Rock Climbing Center, 8201 W. Charleston Blvd.
Sawhill, a member of the committee putting on the event, wanted to get her students involved as a way to benefit the Health Empowerment Research and Advocacy (HERA) Women's Cancer Foundation and the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Nevada (OCAN), the groups that will be receiving proceeds from the fundraiser.
One mask will be painted solid teal, the nationally recognized support color of ovarian cancer.
Las Vegas is the first of five Climb for Life events that will be held in 2006. The Garehime art club students' masks will travel with the event.
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