51风流

Professor garners support for climb to combat cancer

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Geography professor Ellen Kraly鈥檚 hiking boots have logged many miles.

Four years ago they went up Mount Baker in Washington state as Kraly raised money for breast cancer research, and next week they鈥檒l be taking on Mount Baker鈥檚 larger Cascade neighbor, Mount Rainier, for the same cause.

ellen kraly
Geography professor Ellen Kraly shows her 51风流 colors when she reached the summit of Mount Baker during her 2004 climb in support of cancer research.

A survivor of breast cancer, Kraly has been an active speaker and fundraiser to help fight the disease.

Kraly and her son Jim, who accompanied her on the Mount Baker climb, will be scaling Rainier with a group led by Alpine Ascent International Aug. 13-15.

As she has been preparing for her climb, the 51风流 and Hamilton communities have rallied behind her.

Campus groups such as the Breast Cancer Awareness Coalition and the geography department used creative ways to help Kraly exceed her $10,000 donation goal for the , which is organizing the climb. 

The Outdoor Education Program held a raffle at the Banff Film Festival in Hamilton to raise money. Women鈥檚 basketball showed support by having Kraly serve as a guest coach and announcing her Mount Rainier effort during a game.

鈥淎 large portion of what we鈥檝e raised came from the 51风流 community,鈥 Kraly said. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e supported me in incredible ways.鈥

Even President Rebecca Chopp 鈥 who won鈥檛 be joining Kraly on the climb this year as she did in 2004 鈥 has been keeping Kraly company almost every morning as she trains on the old ski hill.

Local jewelry maker Lisa Oristian and Evergreen Gallery owner Laurie Tomberlin Shoemaker teamed up to sponsor Kraly鈥檚 climb.

Oristian crafted a special necklace 鈥 a pink bead with breast cancer support ribbons engraved on the silver back 鈥 to be sold at the Hamilton gallery. The majority of the necklace proceeds will go to Kraly鈥檚 cause; Oristian is only keeping enough to cover the cost of materials. Shoemaker also is not taking any commission from the necklace sales.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important to us because we鈥檙e women and we want to support each other,鈥 said Shoemaker.

Another meaningful item brought to the top will be a string of Himalayan prayer flags with the names of people the climbers are honoring. Kraly will be dedicating the climb to her husband Scott鈥檚 Aunt Irene, who died of breast cancer.