Any Mountain had a remarkable year.
In April 2023, twenty ovarian cancer survivors, healthcare providers and care-givers took an epic journey to the Everest Base Camp in the name of a world without ovarian cancer.
On May 14, 2023 (Mother’s Day) Jess Wedel became the first ovarian cancer survivor in history to summit Mt Everest – 29,032 feet elevation.
Teal Everest
The First Ovarian Cancer Survivor’s Ascent
April 2023 | 29,032′
Reaching New Heights in the Fight Against Cancer
On May 14 2023, Jess Wedel became the first ovarian cancer survivor in history to summit Mt. Everest at an elevation of 29,032 feet.
The Everest Team
Survivors
Mandi Chambless
Randee Johnson
Mary Beth Kepner
Lynn Temple
Cheryl Tope
Jess Wedel
Providers
Dr. Anne Alaniz
Dr. Joanie Mayer Hope
Dr. Jill Whyte
Dr. Carole Williams
Supporters
Betsy Bartko
Pam Cravez
Charlotte Johnson
Misha Kirimo
Karen Loeffler
Mary Macklin
Floyd Spinner
Reba Temple
Haley Tope
Guides
Jess Wedel
Lauren Macklin
Keeley Rideout
Furtemba Sherpa
How the Dollars Raised for the Everest Trip are Being Used
$300,000
To the TUBA-WISP II Trial. This surgical prevention trial, managed by MD Anderson Cancer Center, gives women, who are at high risk for ovarian cancer due to genetic mutations, the option of a two-step procedure to reduce their risk. By having their fallopian tubes surgically removed first (salpingectomy) with a delayed ovary removal (oophorectomy), women are able to preserve hormonal function longer, thereby maintaining cardiovascular protection, sexual function and other benefits.
The Any Mountain funding is being used to open sites across the country expanding access to diverse populations.
$75,000
Music & mountain adventures which inspire & ignite our cause.
$25,000
Infrastructure & staff to keep the lights on.
For more information about our financial accountability, please click here.
This journey was not without sacrifice and hardship.
Two members of our team had to be evacuated by helicopter before reaching the base camp and one member from the basecamp itself.
Three Sherpa from Imagine Nepal (our Nepalese trekking company) died in a tragic accident the day before we arrived at base camp. One of our survivors who had trained arduously and stayed in Nepal for 2 months, made the wise but very hard decision to stop her summit bid and come home safely.
But despite these challenges, we had an experience that will live forever in our memories and hearts.
Together, we raised over $500,000 for ovarian cancer awareness, prevention, and early detection research.
Since the Climb
We brought national attention to the Ovarian Cancer cause as thousands of people followed our climb and were inspired by the resilience of our survivors.
Here is a break-down of what our team accomplished together:
400,000
Dollars raised through the support of over 700 people.
1
Album produced featuring 7 original songs and 2 new music videos.
2
Mountains successfully summited through teamwork.
2,262
Early Detection Quizzes completed by participants.
We Garnered National Media Coverage:
KOCO News
Edmond cancer survivor makes history by summitting Mt. Everest
May 26, 2023
An Edmond woman made history after being the first Oklahoma woman, and first ovarian cancer survivor, to summit Mount Everest.
The Himalayan – Kathmandu
Jessica Wedel becomes first ovarian cancer survivor to summit Everest
May 14, 2023
An American woman climber has become the first ovarian cancer survivor to stand atop the roof of the world this morning.
Fox News
Ovarian cancer survivors hike Mount Everest
April 23, 2023
Arthel Neville speaks with Dr. Joanie Mayor Hope to discuss the excursion to Mount Everest to raise awareness for ovarian cancer on ’Fox News Live.’
Alaska’s News Source
Alaskans prepare for Mt. Everest trek to raise ovarian cancer awareness
March 1, 2023
On April 1, a group that includes ovarian cancer survivors, family members, caregivers and medical providers will leave Anchorage for Nepal, traveling to the Mt. Everest base camp.
Anchorage Daily News
How a plan to reach the world’s highest peaks found a higher goal — preventing ovarian cancer
March 28, 2023
Kepner and her guide, Wedel, have their sights on the summit of Mount Everest. The rest of the team is going as far as the Everest Base Camp, at 17,600 feet.
Our Dream Goal of
$29 Million
The research money raised went to the Any Mountain Expedition research team lead by Dr. Elizabeth Swisher from University of Washington and Dr. Karen Lu from MD Anderson. The allocation of research funds is being overseen the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance under the leadership of their Executive Director Kathleen Gavin.
In the months and years to come, we will move Any Mountain forward, we will continue to climb towards our dream goal of $29 million dollars – enough to SUMMIT the Everest of ovarian cancer and tackle other very steep challenges in gynecologic cancer. With enough funding dedicated to ovarian cancer early detection and prevention research, we could develop an early detection test, change surgical standard of care with risk reducing removal of fallopian tubes, and implement affordable universal genetic testing to identify those at risk. These three strategies could END ovarian cancer as we know it.
We hope that our Everest quest will be the SPARK that lights this fire, and will inspire many to others join our climb and give generously into the future. If we can do that, we can create a world without ovarian cancer.
Any Mountain was built on the foundation of years of community organizing, academic development, creative expression, arduous medical training, sacrifice of loved ones, loss of too many lives, and absolute determination to never give up.
Upcoming Climbs
Denali
May 2026 | 21,310′
Research Funded: Ovarian Cancer Prevention & Early Detection
Ecuador Volcanoes
October 2026 | 19,347′
Research Funded: Advanced & Agressive Endometrial Cancers
Everest Basecamp
April 2027 | 17,598′
Research Funded: Health Care Equity
There will be new mountains, new quests, new creativity, and tremendous views from the summits we gain.
