Impressions from Climb for a Cure Mount Kilimanjaro participants

"We have made great progress over the past two decades but we can't sit back and say the job is done when so many CML patients are still not receiving the best drug for them, and so few are achieving treatment-free-remission. With the Climb for a Cure Mount Kilimanjaro 2019 we wanted to do something a bit out of our comfort zone to celebrate 10 years of work by the iCMLf and to mark a new phase ...

"Researchers, patients, patient advocates, physicians and supporters of the Foundation joined us on the Climb for a Cure Mount Kilimanjaro 2019. For me this represents the whole CML community. It's how the community works together and responds together" (Nicola Evans, Chief Executive of the iCMLf)

"I spend my days treating patients with CML and we can treat them sucessfully, but the rest of the world is not like that. We have a bigger obligation to patients in other parts of the world that don't have what we have. I like this focus of the iCMLf" (Kendra Sweet - researcher and hematologist from the US)

"I pledged to do this for me and for all CML patients in Nigeria. CML is not known in Nigeria, the government doesn't know we exist because this is a rare cancer. What I really want to do is to make a change. It might not be possible in a lifetime but at least I will give it a try. It's better than not trying. From there I'll see what happens"(Andy Ojelabi - CML patient from Nigeria)

"The most amazing experience I've ever had, not only about climbing Kilimanjaro, but making this as a group and sharing our experiences" (Katia Pagnano - researcher and hematologist from Brazil)

"The perfect way to meet new friends, discover new places and challenge myself while supporting a noble cause. I would have never dreamed of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. If I can do this, CML researchers can find a cure for CML" (Rihab Nasr - researcher and hematologist from Lebanon)

"Patients do this mountain climbing every day if they have the diagnosis. I wanted to show my small tribute to their daily struggle" (Vamsi Kota - researcher and hematologist from the US)

Climb for a cure 2019 - Ayla, Conny and Yunus Borowczak

"Thanks to effective medication, CML has changed from a fatal to a chronic disease. This is a great achievement and gives CML patients hope. But this is not enough – more can be done!Our children need a healing therapy! This is our highest priority as a family and we want to reach the top and achieve a cure for CML."(Conny Borowczak with her daugher Ayla and her son Yunus - a CML patient)

Mount Kilimanjaro has been climbed. CML can be cured.

IMG 20191104 WA0002 Mount Kilimanjaro has been climbed! In 2019 the iCMLf undertook a unique charity challenge to raise funds for the iCMLf CURE CONSORTIUM The funds raised will play an integral role in getting closer to a cure for CML. An amazing team of 26 climbers – researchers, doctors, patients and supporters from all over the world raised over $300,000 for the work of the Foundation. From 26 October to 3 November the Climb for a cure team sucessfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. The youngest climber was 18 years old, a CML patient from Germany.

$304,464 total funds raised by the Climb for a Cure team

26 participants from all over the world including Africa, Australia, Europe, Middle East, South America and USA

Click here to see our Climb for a Cure Mount Kilimanjaro video

Thanks to the funds raised we now begin projects within the iCMLf Genomics Alliance to investigate the role particular somatic mutations play in clinical outcomes. We also have seed funding for the new iCMLf TFR Alliance, which will look at predictive biomarkers for patients wanting to achieve treatment free remission.

These are important first steps on the long road to finding a cure for CML. It's just like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Step by step, we come closer to our goal: a cure for CML.

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Registered Address: International CML Foundation - 20 Eversley Road - Bexhill-On-Sea, East Sussex, TN40 1HE - UK