​I'm doing BIG CLIMB SEATTLE on March 24, 2024.

​

Why am I climbing?

To honor my Big Sis, Evie. She was a cancer warrior, and fought leukemia with her fiercely independent style. To say she was one of my heroes would be an understatement. I think about her every day.

My sister, Anne, and I formed Team Sunrise to honor Evie's love of a good sunrise, and the goal in front of us to rise up all 1311 steps of the Columbia Tower. The picture I've chosen was taken by Evie from her porch, looking out at her favorite tree, Burl, covered with birds - and the sun rising over Grays Harbor in all its beauty.

What can you do?

Donate! Any amount, large or small, will help. I'm hoping to raise $1311. This is $1 for every step I will climb on March 24, 2024. Our team goal is $2622, the total number of steps my sister Anne and I will climb. 

UPDATE! Due to a few generous donations, I'm already over my initial goal. And we are over our initial #TeamSunrise goal. I'll be increasing my goal amount, and we are increasing our #TeamSunrise goal, too. Thank you, all! (And I just updated the goal again. Thank you to all that have donated!)

Don't have the means to donate money? No problem. Donate blood at a local blood bank. Cancer warriors (and trauma survivors) use blood products all the time during treatment. Donating blood saves lives.

Want to climb? Join Team Sunrise! Let me know if  you have any questions.

Lowell's Training Update

Total Floors on the Stairmaster/Other Stairs: 1719

Total Steps Climbed: 27912

Last Update: 03/17/2024

I use a pretty wide-ranging fitness program, with lifting and cardio as often as possible. But starting the first week of October when Anne and I created the team, I aim to do at least 2 stairmaster workouts per week. Typically, I'll warm up on the treadmill at an incline for 10 minutes, then hit the stairmaster. Each time I hit the stairmaster, I add at least one more minute, and 2-3 floors. (Lately I've been adding 2 minutes and about 5 floors.) On my longer cardio sessions, I also add about 20 minutes on the Elliptical to get a bit more work in to get ready.

​By March 24, 2024 I plan to be able to do 100 floors on the stairmaster. I figure the Stairmaster is easier than real stairs. I guess I'll know how accurate this is on March 24th. But I'll be ready.

Cool update: On Sunday, January 28th, I hit 1328 stairs (from 83 floors) on the Stairmaster. This is the first workout where I've hit at least 1311 stairs. 

Another cool update: On Sunday, February 4th, it was World Cancer Day. On that day, I hit 100 floors on the Stairaster, during a 40-minute climb. This was 1600 stairs. From the beginning, this has been my training goal. So I made a little video, LINKED HERE.

One more cool update: A local newspaper, the Sammamish Independent, ran an article about Team Sunrise and my efforts to raise money for LLS, LINKED HERE.

One last cool update: On March 17th three of us were able to get together at Suncadia Resort for a training session. We did 5 laps on the stairs that go from the resort down to the Cle Elum river. 1550 stairs in total. Here's a video with some footage from the training, and a fundraising update, LINKED HERE.

Thank you to all that have donated!

What is Big Climb?

At 788 feet of vertical elevation, the Columbia Center in downtown Seattle is one of the tallest buildings west of the Mississippi. It takes 69 floors, or 1,311 steps, to reach the highly acclaimed Sky View Observatory with breathtaking views of the entire Puget Sound region. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Big Climb event raises money through individual and team fundraising, sponsorship and entry fees which is then invested in its mission to fund blood cancer research and support services for patients and their families. In 2018, the Big Climb raised a record-breaking $3,007,080. Big Climb Seattle will be taking place on Sunday, March 24, 2024.

Who is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society?
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. The mission of LLS is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Every day, more than 347 LLS sponsored researchers come closer to the goal of finding a cure for leukemia and related blood cancers. Locally, LLS funds 10 researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and University of Washington Medical Center. Your support and commitment to the mission of LLS enables us to continue this important work of saving lives and aids us in our ability to reach patients in our community.

To donate to our team as a whole, please click the 'donate' button above, and your donation will be distributed equally between all team members. To make a donation to an individual team member, please click on their name below.

Thank you for your time and I hope that you will consider donating to this cause!