After the anticlimax of delaying the climb due to lightning, thunder, wind, and rain on the volcano the night before we were supposed to go. we are back on for Sunday, April 17 and Monday, April 18!! The only new twist is that I have been declared legally blind! So there we go, truly climbing blind. Read on for our story...
Happy 2016! As you may know, I was diagnosed years ago with a degenerative eye disease called choroideremia, which slowly and ultimately leads to blindness. Such is biology! I very firmly believe that our challenges are not our stopping points, that we can achieve heights much greater than what we 'should' do. In this spirit, I am raising money for the Choroideremia Research Foundation, which is looking for a cure for this rare condition, by climbing the volcanoes of Guatemala, starting with the 12,000 foot + Volcan Acatenango (pictured). Fundrasier + the stunning natural beauty of Guatemala + 37 volcanoes in all = a cure is in sight!
There is a group of dedicated, extraordinary doctors and scientists searching for a cure, but this takes time and money. They are supported by the Choroideremia Research Foundation and the CRF will be the beneficiary of the funds raised. I figure at some point I'm going to benefit from their work and want to contribute something to their efforts. With your help, these scientists can make real progress without having to abandon their work for lack of support. There are already Stage II human trials going on in different leading universities around the world involving a gene therapy that is providing hope to those affected and their families. This therapy and other mind-blowing technological advancements mean an honest treatment or cure is relatively near! Just ten years ago, none of this seemed possible, but here we are!
I bought hiking poles and my friend Leann wants to climb with me, and we have a professional guide, Juancho, who I have hiked with in the past. Plus, we may have a film crew following us to document this adventure (we'll make that available on YouTube or some other media)! The total expense for this trip, which I'm hoping to cover with a portion of this fundraiser, is $500 (it is an overnight trip and that amount is all-inclusive, all we need to bring is our determination / stubbornness). I have set up a couple donation levels (every 1,000 feet climbed and Sponsor a Climber) or you can make your own donation. All funds above this go to the CRF. If you would like to make a $500 donation to cover all trip expenses, that would be amazing! Every single bit is very, very genuinely appreciated and will go towards finding hope for a deeply profound impairment.
If possible, please indicate if you are donating to the Every 1,000 feet effort. We can collect this money afterward or can assume that we will hike the full volcano for a total of $120 to be donated all at once ahead of time. Similarly if you'd like to sponsor either me or Leann, please let us know so we can thank you personally!
Feel free to email me at scottsgarrison@gmail.com with any questions. Just as an fyi, I will collect the money and the donation will be made to the CRF. I will find out form them if tax-deduction letters are possible. THANK YOU and we'll send some pictures from the top!