Memories are Everything: The 7 Summits to start with Aconcagua in 2010

I am pleased to announce new partners for Memories are Everything: The 7 Summits where we are raising $1M for Alzheimer’s care support and research in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association.
International Mountain Guides (IMG) will lead the climbs and Outside Online will report on the climbs thus increasing the awareness and opportunity for fund raising.
The first climb will be on the highest mountain in South America, Aconcagua at 22, 841 feet or 6962 meters from January 31 to February 21, 2010. Please continue reading for the details or visit this link for complete details.

Overview
Today over 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 seventh-leading cause of death in the United States.
I know this personally because my mother, Ida, is in the final stages, and I have already lost two aunts to Alzheimer’s. But there is hope to find a cure through research and an opportunity 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 fund raising events before, during and after each expedition. Our partners are the Alzheimer’s Association and International Mountain Guides plus Outside Online who will be following the journey with updates sent directly from the climbs. You are invited to join on a climb or a trek, help with a fund raising 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 that will be held in a city near the expedition’s departure point making this a true global event that you can join.
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. IMG was selected as one of the top 5 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 IMG 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.
The Climbs and Treks
Each expedition will be professionally lead by an IMG Guide who has years of experience climbing these mountains. IMG has consistently and safely put climbers on the summits of all theses mountains including Aconcagua for over 20 years, Mt. Vinson in Antarctica since 1988, and of course they are a leading expedition company to Everest, year in, year out with over 200 summits since 1990.
I know some of you may not be prepared for the rigors of high altitude mountaineering so please consider joining us on a trek such as to Everest Base Camp. Also look at the Kilimanjaro climb. It is not a technical climb but offers the challenges of a world-class expedition.
The current schedule and estimated prices for the 7 Summits:
* Aconcagua, Argentina – 22,841’/6962m
• January 31- February 21, 2010; $3,900
* Elbrus, Russia – 18,481’/5633m
• August, 2010; $4,600
* Kilimanjaro, Africa – 19,340’/5896m
• July 11-25, 2010; $4,025
* Vinson, Antarctica – 16,067’/4897m
• November 24-December 12, 2010; $33,200
* Everest, Nepal – 29,035’/8850m
• April/May, 2011; $40,000
• Trek to Everest base camp; $4,000
* Denali, Alaska – 20,320’/6194m
• July, 2011; $6,000
* Carstensz Pyramid, New Guinea – 16,023’/4884m
• TBD 2011
* Mt. Kosciuszko, Australia – 7,310’/2228m
• TBD 2011
You can read a brief overview of each mountain on my 7 Summits page or the IMG site.
Please Make a Donation Today
You do not have to wait for the climbs to make a donation. All donations go to the Alzheimer’s Association and none to my climbing so please make a donation today.

Please Donate 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 IMG immediately to get a spot on these expeditions. Space is always limited so please do not delay.
While climbing is the 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 that I would love to share with you.
Join a Climb
Sponsorship Opportunities
We are still ing corporate sponsors to join the project. Please have them contact Alan for the proposal package
More Information
Please visit any of these sites for more information on Memories are Everything:
Alzheimer’s Association
International Mountain Guides
alanarnette.com
Climb On!
Alan