Grand Teton Vs. Cancer

In Summer 2018, Alyson and Nathan Rode will travel to Grand Teton National Park and attempt to summit its tallest peak, Grand Teton, at 13,776 feet. They will do so to raise awareness for pediatric cancer and funds for Vs. Cancer. They will blog their training and trip on www.alycatswalkabout.com. You can contribute to their campaign here.

By Nathan Rode

A couple years ago, my wife, Alyson, and I joined a rock climbing gym—Triangle Rock Club in North Carolina. We’ve always been big outdoor enthusiasts and try to stay as physically active as possible in our busy lives. We never thought we’d venture outside on the rocks, but we have slowly developed the itch. Last September, we traveled to the Northwest for vacation—visiting friends in Seattle before heading to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. As we flew over Washington’s Mount Rainier, we thought about our climbing friends who had taken a trip to summit the fourth-tallest peak in the Lower 48 of the United States. Our sense of adventure started to lure us. How cool would it be to stand on top of a mountain, getting there with your own two feet—and hands—and looking out to the horizon with miles of beautiful landscape in between?

As we traveled to Grand Teton, we researched what it would take to summit Mount Rainier. Then we saw the Grand Teton Range for the first time in our lives. It’s absolutely striking. Our research turned into a compare and contrast. Rainier or Teton?

We decided on Teton and have been planning a trip since. One of our climbing friends is qualified to lead us so we don’t have to go through an expedition outfit. Going with a Teton group was our original plan, but our friend allows us to save some money and operate a little bit more freely in our attempt to climb.

We’re not so vain that we want to share our vacation plans with the world. Instead, we’re taking this opportunity to promote something we care about deeply.

As outdoor enthusiasts, Alyson and I are passionate about the environment. Anybody following our expedition can see just one example of what our country has to offer in its natural state. You don’t have to climb Teton to experience or appreciate its grandiose views. Our National Park system has so much to offer and is for everyone to enjoy.

Another passion we have is simply serving the community. We volunteer in several different facets and we’re going to use this trip to promote one of our favorite charities. Vs. Cancer raises funds for pediatric cancer research. Our friend, Chase Jones, founded the organization and we have supported it since its inception. If we can raise awareness for a cause while taking on our own personal challenge, why wouldn’t we seize that opportunity?

If you would like to donate to our Vs. Cancer campaign, we’ve set up a page with information. Half of the money raised will go toward research and the other half will benefit Duke Children’s Hospital, located in our hometown of Durham, N.C. Most Vs. Cancer campaigns are done by sports teams with athletes cutting or shaving their hair at an event. We don’t plan on being any different. Upon reaching the summit of Teton at 13,776 feet, I will pull out the clippers and Alyson will pull out the shears.

For the two of us, this will be the hardest thing we’ve done, but still easier than what hundreds of thousands of kids and their families go through fighting cancer. We hope you follow our journey and support our cause. We certainly look forward to sharing the story.

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