Any Mountain had a remarkable year.
In April 2023, twenty ovarian cancer survivors, healthcare providers and care-givers took an epic journey to the Everest Base Camp in the name of a world without ovarian cancer.
On May 14, 2023 (Mother’s Day) Jess Wedel became the first ovarian cancer survivor in history to summit Mt Everest – 29,032 feet elevation.
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Summit Video
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The Summit Team
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How the Dollars Raised for the Everest Trip are Being Used
More than 700 people donated between $10 – $75,000 dollars
Together, we raised over $500,000 for ovarian cancer awareness, prevention, and early detection research.
Over
$500,000
total raised
After expenses…
$300,000
to Research
$75,000
to Creative Awareness
$25,000
to Project Administration
The research money raised went to the Any Mountain Expedition research team lead by Dr. Elizabeth Swisher from University of Washington and Dr. Karen Lu from MD Anderson. The allocation of research funds is being overseen the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance under the leadership of their Executive Director Kathleen Gavin.
This journey was not without sacrifice and hardship.
Two members of our team had to be evacuated by helicopter before reaching the base camp and one member from the basecamp itself. Three Sherpa from Imagine Nepal (our Nepalese trekking company) died in a tragic accident the day before we arrived at base camp. One of our survivors who had trained arduously and stayed in Nepal for 2 months, made the wise but very hard decision to stop her summit bid and come home safely.
But despite these challenges, we had an experience that will live forever in our memories and hearts.
We brought national attention to the Ovarian Cancer cause as thousands of people followed our climb and were inspired by the resilience of our survivors.
Here is a break-down of what our team accomplished together.
- Over $500,000 total raised
- More than 700 people donated between
$10 – $75,000 dollars - 8 fund-raising and awareness events (New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Alaska)
- 40,000 people reached directly on Any Mountain social media & >100K via our team links
- 2 new music videos produced and 7 original songs released (Listen Here)
- Debuted the Any Mountain SOULBRIGHT Show for a full house at Beartooth Theatre Pub in Anchorage (Watch Here)
We Garnered National Media Coverage:
Edmond cancer survivor makes history by summitting Mt. Everest
May 26, 2023 | KOCO News
An Edmond woman made history after being the first Oklahoma woman, and first ovarian cancer survivor, to summit Mount Everest.
Jessica Wedel becomes first ovarian cancer survivor to summit Everest
May 14, 2023 | The Himalayan – Kathmandu
An American woman climber has become the first ovarian cancer survivor to stand atop the roof of the world this morning.
Ovarian cancer survivors hike Mount Everest
April 23, 2023 | Fox News
Arthel Neville speaks with Dr. Joanie Mayor Hope to discuss the excursion to Mount Everest to raise awareness for ovarian cancer on ’Fox News Live.’
Alaskans prepare for Mt. Everest trek to raise ovarian cancer awareness
March 1, 2023 | Alaska’s News Source
On April 1, a group that includes ovarian cancer survivors, family members, caregivers and medical providers will leave Anchorage for Nepal, traveling to the Mt. Everest base camp.
How a plan to reach the world’s highest peaks found a higher goal — preventing ovarian cancer
March 28, 2023 | Anchorage Daily News
Kepner and her guide, Wedel, have their sights on the summit of Mount Everest. The rest of the team is going as far as the Everest Base Camp, at 17,600 feet.
Our Dream Goal of
$29 Million
In the months and years to come, we will move Any Mountain forward, we will continue to climb towards our dream goal of $29 million dollars – enough to SUMMIT the Everest of ovarian cancer and tackle other very steep challenges in gynecologic cancer. With enough funding dedicated to ovarian cancer early detection and prevention research, we could develop an early detection test, change surgical standard of care with risk reducing removal of fallopian tubes, and implement affordable universal genetic testing to identify those at risk. These three strategies could END ovarian cancer as we know it.
We hope that our Everest quest will be the SPARK that lights this fire, and will inspire many to others join our climb and give generously into the future. If we can do that, we can create a world without ovarian cancer.
Any Mountain was built on the foundation of years of community organizing, academic development, creative expression, arduous medical training, sacrifice of loved ones, loss of too many lives, and absolute determination to never give up.
Gallery
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There will be new mountains, new quests, new creativity, and
Tremendous views from the summits we gain.
Mt. Rainier
14,411′ | June 2025
Fundraising Goal: $10,000
A 5 day trip led by the professional mountain guides at RMI.
Ecuador
19,347′ | February 2026
Fundraising Goal: $12,000
Advance your mountaineering skills and climb two of Ecuador’ highest peaks!