Alan Arnette's 7 Summits Climb

My mother, Ida, was recently taken by Alzheimer’s. A good moment was when she remembered her husband of 60 years who died three years ago, my brother or me. Her favorite memory was of her childhood, but that faded with time. It was devastating to watch her mind slip away but a small blessing that she did not know this disease would take her life.

In 2006, I took early retirement from almost 30 years in high tech and immediately started to raise money for Alzheimer’s research though my personal passion of high altitude mountain climbing.

As a result of seeing the impact of Alzheimer's on my mother, it became clear that I had to do something. Thus Memories are Everything: The 7 Summits, an attempt of the 7 Summits (the highest mountain on each continent) and includes Everest was launched in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association.

Our goal is to raise $1 million dollars as people follow the climbs through Web sites as well as through the events hosted at major cities around the world during the climbs.

Donate today to Alan's 7 Summits Climb!

Today more than 5.3 Americans, and millions more worldwide, are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, and it is fatal. Today it is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States.

Having lost my mother and two aunts to Alzheimer’s, I know firsthand the devastating impact of this disease on families. But there is hope of finding a cure through research and an opportunity to help those who have it today and their families. That is why, with your help, we are raising $1M to advance Alzheimer’s care, support, research and awareness.

We will climb the 7 Summits in 2010 and 2011 and conduct fundraising events before, during and after each expedition. Our partners are the Alzheimer’s Association and International Mountain Guides. In addition, Outside Online will be following the journey with updates sent directly from the climbs.

You are invited to join a climb or a trek, help with a fundraising event or make a donation today. Together we can make a world without Alzheimer’s.

Fundraising

Our goal is to raise $1 million dollars as people follow the climbs through Web sites as well as through the events hosted at major cities around the world during the climbs.
When you join an expedition you will be invited to be part of an unprecedented effort to raise the $1M though your efforts with local fundraising events before and after their climb in conjunction with your local Alzheimer’s Association chapter.  Also prior to each climb, I will conduct a local fundraising event which will be held in a city near the expedition’s departure point making this a true global event that you can join.

The Climbs

Each expedition will be professionally lead by an International Mountain Guides guide who has years of experience climbing these mountains. International Mountain guides has consistently and safely put climbers on the summits of all theses mountains, including Aconcagua, for more than 20 years, Mt. Vinson in Antarctica since 1988 and they are a leading expedition company to Everest year in year out with more than 200 summits since 1990.

The current schedule and estimated costs for the 7 Summits:

• Aconcagua, Argentina – 22,841’
  January 31- February 21, 2010; $3,900
• Elbrus, Russia – 18,481’
  August, 2010; $4,600
• Kilimanjaro, Africa – 19,563’
  July 11-25, 2010; $4,025
• Vinson, Antarctica – 16,066’
  November 24-December 12, 2010; $33,200
• Everest, Nepal – 29,035’
  April/May, 2011; $40,000
  Trek to Everest base camp; $4,000
• Denali, Alaska – 20,320’
  July, 2011; $6,000
• Carstensz Pyramid, New Guinea – 16,023’
  TBD 2011
• Mt. Kosciuszko, Australia - 7,310’
  TBD 2011

You can read a brief overview of each mountain on the 7 Summits page.

What Could I Do?

As a result of seeing the impact of Alzheimer's on my mother, it became clear that I had to do something. So after taking early retirement, I have dedicated my life to raising money for Alzheimer’s disease through my climbing.

My dream is that researchers can find a way to stop or a cure for this killer of lives and robber of precious lifetime memories.

Please make a donation today!

You do not have to wait for my climb to make a donation. All donations go to the Alzheimer's Association and none to my climbing so please make the donation from the link on this page today.

Join A Climb!

This is going to happen and I want you to be part of it. I hope you can join at least one climb or tell your friends who may be looking at a climb to look into this opportunity.

Contact Alan or International Mountain Guides immediately to get a spot on one of these expeditions. Space is always limited so please do not delay.

While climbing is activity, fundraising is the goal. This is about the cause and not about the climb however, the climb will help the cause and be a great adventure than I would love to share with you.

Alan’s Story

We started noticing my mother's memories had slipped several years ago. During the 2003 Christmas holiday, we went to a hotel for their famous brunch. As usual, we all got up to visit the buffet and indulge until we could no more. I noticed my Mom walking around aimlessly. As I went over to her, she seemed startled at my approach. "What do you want to eat?" I asked her gently. "Oh, you know; the usual." was her noncommittal answer.

In spite of this warning sign she and my dad continued their independent life for several more years, refusing to give up their independence in spite of our begging. As her memory grew worse, she mastered the technique of the elusive "throw-away" answer. My dad supported her deception either by design or by necessity.

Sitting across the table from her during breakfast, we chatted intently about Dad being in the hospital. I had to keep reminding her that he was not well and it was serious. In the midst of this serious talk, she looked at me with clarity in her eyes and simply asked "Now, who are you again?"

In 2009 my mom continued to decline. She had trouble feeding herself and doing other daily activities. She no longer recognized or remembered anyone, and she had significant trouble forming words or creating sentences. Her mind continued to be devastated by this disease. Not only was her memory gone but almost all of her identity.

That said, I could still get her to laugh a little with a small joke and even over the phone, I could feel her smile. So she was always in there somewhere.

On August 16, 2009, she passed away.

Alan Arnette
Alan was born in Memphis, TN and now lives with his wife in Colorado. He took early retirement in 2007 after a 30 year career with Hewlett-Packard. There he served in various roles but mostly in general management positions including a five year assignment in Europe.

He started climbing late in life at age 38 with Mont Blanc his first big peak but went on to gain skills and experience through climbing some of the highest mountains in the world including Everest, Cho Oyu, Broad Peak, Ama Dablam, Aconcagua, Denali and more.

The Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Their mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected  and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

They provide an extensive array of information, education and support including a 24/7 Helpline (1.800.272.3900), a very informative Web site, local chapters focused on increasing understanding and providing help and hope, the largest research grant program for Alzheimer’s, government and policy advocacy and more.

I partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association based on their proven ability to make a difference in the lives of families living with Alzheimer’s plus their impact on research around the world.

Alzheimer Research
The spending on Alzheimer research pales in comparison to that spent on cancer, heart disease and many other crippling diseases. Funding through the National Institutes of Health puts Alzheimer's far behind at only $644 million in 2009 as compared to $5,654 million for cancer and $1,033 million for diabetes. Government spending on research is less than one penny for every dollar spent on care.

We must do more and do it now. Every 70 seconds another case of Alzheimer’s is diagnosed. It is estimated to cost more than $5,000 a month to care for an Alzheimer’s patient. With the baby boomer generation aging, the numbers will grow dramatically affecting 10 million during their lifetime. And Alzheimer’s knows no country boundaries.

International Mountain Guides
International Mountain Guides directors Phil Ershler, George Dunn, Eric Simonson and Paul Baugher organize and lead climbing, trekking and mountaineering expeditions around the world, from the classic climbs of the Alps and Andes to the 8,000m peaks of the Himalayas.

They are one of the most respected and active guiding companies in the world. Since 1986 they have conducted hundreds of expeditions to destinations around the globe. International Mountain Guides was selected as one of the top five adventure tour operators by National Geographic Adventure Magazine in 2009. I climbed Cho Oyu with them and have known Eric Simonson for years. I choose International Mountain Guides based on their long history of safely and successfully guiding climbers of all experience levels to the summit and back home safely.

If we can fill each climb, we can ensure a special and unique experience that will maximize the fundraising efforts - so please tell your friends. You can read about the 7 Summits expeditions at a special page on the International Mountain Guides Web site.