Cancer Climb of Mt Cotopaxi
(19,347’ / 5,897m) In The Ecuadorian Andes
Will Raise Funding For Education and Outreach Programs
For Prostate Awareness Foundation

In June of 2009 prostate cancer veterans, family members and supporters from all over the United States will converge on the high Andes of Ecuador to climb Mt Cotopaxi 19,347’ (5,897m) a semi-active volcano. Their goal is to reach the summit, raise critically needed funding for education and outreach programs and inspire men and their families with a message of hope. Prostate cancer will affect one in five families in the United States and has reached epidemic proportions.

The first expedition in 2000 climbed Mt Aconcagua in the Argentine Andes, the highest mountain in South America. In 2003 & 2008, the project climbed 19,341’ Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. Last year’s Cancer Climb for Prostate Awareness climbed Mt Blanc the highest mountain in continental Europe. Other expeditions have taken place in the Colorado Rockies and Yosemite High Country.

The Prostate Awareness Foundation, the non-profit organization sponsoring this year’s expedition, provides men and their families with information about available treatment options both conventional and alternative. It also offers guidance about prevention and nutritional measures for good prostate health. PAF encourages men to take a proactive approach to dealing with prostate cancer. The PAF website is located at www.prostateawarenessfoundation.org.

Ken Malik, one of this year’s expedition leaders, a co-founder of PAF and a thirteen year veteran of prostate cancer, wants to include men from Latin America and internationally on this year’s climb of Mt Cotopaxi. He says “This technical climb can be accomplished by people of all ages if they are in good shape. We would really like to include our international brothers with prostate cancer and also health professionals that have an interest in prostate health. We can learn a lot from each other about prevention and treatment options”.

The expedition will be arriving in Quito, Ecuador on June 15th and spend a week acclimatizing at high altitude before attempting the ice bound summit. There will be as many as thirty participants on this year’s expedition. There is still room on the expedition. Please contact Ken Malik at kamalik@sbcglobal.net for details on how you can participate.