Hi Friends and Family!

I am partnering with Triumph Cancer Foundation and raising money for Triumph to the Summit 2023.

I participated in the Triumph Fitness program last year. Triumph is a strength and fitness program for people who have recently completed cancer treatment. When I joined Triumph last summer, I thought, “I wish I had known about this program when I finished chemo 15 years ago. This is exactly what I was looking for!” While browsing Triumph’s website, I discovered they also had a hiking program called, “Triumph to the Summit.” You know how I feel about hiking. I wanted to participate so badly, but knew there was no way I could on my current treatment.

Fast forward a year later. I was packing for a recent trip to Tahoe when suddenly I had a lightbulb moment…TRIUMPH TO THE SUMMIT! I wondered if I could do it this year given the fact that I had recently reduced my treatment dose and have been feeling so much more energized! I was on a mission. Instead of journaling like I usually do while in Tahoe, I spent the week testing my body on various hikes throughout the mountains and came to the conclusion, “I CAN DO THIS!” I immediately reached out to the Founder of Triumph inquiring about the program and, HERE I AM!

I will be hiking every Saturday from late June to early September in preparation for a Sierra Summit. The timing of the program happens to coincide perfectly with my next scan, which isn't due until early September when the program ends. I feel like the stars have aligned and this is all divinely orchestrated. The hikes range from 3.5 mi to 10 miles. We hike as a team. The goal is to demonstrate to survivors that WE CAN TRIUMPH OVER CANCER and of course raise funds that will allow more cancer survivors to participate in the program! The Team serves as an inspiration to other hikers who meet us on the trails and is a great opportunity to outreach and share with fellow hikers the mission of the Foundation. 

As much as I love hiking and have had some epic hiking adventures, this body is not what it used to be. This will be challenging for sure, but I am 100% committed. We had our first training hike yesterday. It was relatively easy compared to what is to come. Because I'm in active treatment, it's just different. Everything is harder. I'm more tired and fatigued than normal. It takes me longer to recover, but sometimes I just have to remind myself that this is what I do. I CLIMB MOUNTAINS.

So, here’s the big ask. I have set my fundraising goal pretty high, but I feel like I know my village. It spans far and wide and I think WE CAN DO THIS! Toward the end of the season, we will be carrying ribbons on our backpacks in honor, celebration and/or memory of loved ones that have been touched by cancer. I have seen pictures of it and it’s quite moving. I will message about this later when I have more information. 

I look forward to sharing with you as this journey continues to progress and unfold. From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely appreciate your love and support of this fundraiser that means so much to me.

BIG LOVE, Fam!

Jill

PS - I’m pretty sure this was supposed to be just a paragraph or so, but you know me; I am a detail oriented person and don’t exactly know how to make a long story short. Ha!