Will Gregorash reached for the top with the first Climbing for the Cure fundraising event.
About 30 registered to climb in the inaugural Climb for the Cure fundraising event in support of the Alzheimer’s Society. The event was held at the Lakehead University Athletics Hangar.
Gregorash came up with the idea because he wanted to marry his love of climbing with a good cause so he approached the Alzheimer’s Society. Gregorash started climbing about a year ago and knew some close family friends affected by Alzheimer’s disease. So it made sense to hold a fundraiser to help others with that disease.
“I thought it would be great to take a fundraiser and a sport I love to do and this this thing,” Gregorash said. “It just seems like the right thing to do. It feels good to give back to the community. It will feel even better when we get a good amount. Keep climbing to the top and reach our goals.”
He added if all goes well he would love to host the event again next year.
Story continues after the video…
The goal for the event was $15,000 and by midnight, the event had raised more than $2,000. All monies raised went toward researching for a cure.
Alison Denton, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Society, said they were thrilled when Gregorash approached them with the idea.
“Alzheimer’s is typically a disease that we often associate with older people,” Denton said. “To have a young group of people that are active in the community to think about doing this for what we consider an older demographic is fantastic.”
Follow Jeff Labine on Twitter @Labine_reporter
