No, not another close scrape on a crumbly seacliff, unlike this time last year…

Tumble off T-Rex

Coming home from Greece, to what must be one of the most miserable Aprils on record, has at least had one silver lining: I haven’t been missing out on Grand Beau Temps whilst I’ve been on various “gigs” for Climbers Against Cancer. It’s been a bit quiet on the cragging (and therefore blogging) front, so I thought I’d fill you in on some CAC-Action.

NOTE: IF THIS SEEMS LIKE A THINLY VEILED GRAB FOR YOUR WALLET, THEN YOU’VE CAUGHT ME! HOWEVER, JUST AS IMPORTANT AS YOUR DOSH, YOU COULD MAKE AN EVEN BIGGER DIFFERENCE THROUGH FUNDRAISING OR VOLUNTEERING. SCROLL TO THE END FOR DETAILS.

Meanwhile, on with my April Highlights blog post…

First of all, for anyone who doesn’t know what CAC stands for (and why I’m usually to be found in a brightly branded T-shirt and/or beanie)…

… it’s the charity Climbers Against Cancer https://www.climbersagainstcancer.org/ established ten years ago by founder John Ellison to harness the strength of the global climbing community to raise funds for research and increase awareness of this disease that affects so many. You can read John’s Story here:

John’s Story

I first got involved in 2013, completing a solo “mile climb” 24hr challenge (165 routes on 5 different Peak District crags clocking up 1634m before heading for a well deserved pint) and raising around £4,000 for The Christie Teenage and Young Adult service  (before CAC had charitable status).

Since then, I’ve been a keen supporter, gradually increasing involvement through my fundraising efforts with The Rucksack Club…

The Rucksack Club supporting CAC – How could your Club get involved?

… until finally taking the plunge a couple of years ago; being greatly honoured to be invited to become a Trustee.

Fast forward to this spring, and less than 48hrs off the ferry I’m over at CWIF (the Climbing Works International Festival) to help flog T-shirts and be on hand to present donations to Breast Cancer UK and Prostate Cancer Research, in the company of climbing legends Alex Megos, Sean McColl and Steve McClure.

Donation to Prostate Cancer Research – £7,568 to support ‘reMOVE’ exercise pilot project

More pop-up shop action at Lancaster Wall for the final of the Lakeland Climbing Walls comp series.

… and a chance to chalk up for a few problems in the occasional lul (and a reminder that I should boulder more!)

An invitation from the Northumbrian Mountaineering Club saw me on the train to Newcastle to share the CAC story and some tales of El Cap Capers

Tremendous hospitality and generosity from my hosts saw many new friends made and much-needed funds raised. What a great community! Talking of which, there’s a lovely write up about CAC in the latest edition of the Club’s Journal County Climber: https://www.thenmc.org.uk/CountyClimber/

The Lab Test is another important fixture on the annual bouldering comp scene, and The Climbing Lab in Leeds are long-term supporters of CAC, so it was a pleasure to join in the fun.

They even made this great video of the event:

Finally, bringing an end to a busy if damp April, CAC was invited as a special guest to Awesome Walls Liverpool’s 25th Birthday celebrations:

Who says beer and climbing don’t mix?

Next generation CAC supporters – get them whilst they are young!

Happy Birthday AW Liverpool!

Okay, after all that fun and excitement, here’s the ‘commercial break’! There are a whole bunch of ways you can get involved in supporting Climbers Against Cancer – check out our News feed if you are interested where the funds we raise are being used: https://www.climbersagainstcancer.org/news/

You can donate here: https://www.climbersagainstcancer.org/donate/

or fill your wardrobe with some lovely CAC gear – T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies & beanies, not to mention DMM krabs, Edelrid ropebags and more goodies (every penny of profit goes to the charity): https://www.climbersagainstcancer.org/shop/

or take part in a fundraiser – check out our forthcoming Everest Climbers Against Cancer challenge https://www.climbersagainstcancer.org/news/everest-climbers-against-cancer/

or if you could spare an afternoon sometime, how about volunteering to help out at a pop-up CAC shop at a climbing wall or event near you? Hopefully from the above you’ll see that it is huge fun: you get to meet nice people; maybe dust off your rock boots; and raise money for a great cause. Get in touch with Helan, our Office Manager at hello@climbersagainstcancer.org and she will be delighted to try to match you up with an event in your patch.

Okay, that’s enough CAC-ing about. Back to some climbing for the next post, I promise!