Lisa Carlson

I'm back from the roof of Europe!

The good wishes of others really kept me going. At about 10:25 AM on July 19th, I stood on top of Mt Elbrus, the tallest peak in Europe and one of the 7 summits. My friends and family were right there with me.

We had a wonderful time these last two weeks and enjoyed a full Russian experience — Russian food, Russian dancers, Russian singers and lots of skilled Russian climbers!

We came together as a team and made new friendships. The Russian people in the Valley where we spent much of our time, Cheget, (shi-get) were welcoming and lovely to us. The Caucasus is as beautiful as the Alps — and with less people around. A big thank you to Alpine Ascents International and our guide, Vern Tejas.

Most importantly, as a team four of us raised over $50,000 for breast cancer research at the Hutchinson Center. That's only for Elbrus and does not include all the dollars raised by volunteer fundraisers climbing other mountains this year — Mts. Rainier, Baker, Hood, Adams and Kilimanjaro.

I'm grateful for all the support I received on this incredible journey. The generosity of many will truly make a difference in supporting the scientists who will find a cure.