With registration open for only two days, Big City Mountaineers (BCM) has nearly sold out all 120 spots to participate in their 2006 Summit For Someone benefit climb series. In only its third season, BCM's Summit for Someone benefit climbs seem assured to raise in excess of $500,000 during 2006, with all proceeds benefiting BCM's mission-driven program, a recreational mentoring program for at-risk teens.
“Thanks to significant promotional exposure from Backpacker Magazine, and its sister publications at Rodale, our benefit climb series has experienced unprecedented climber demand and growth,” comments Mark Godley, Executive Director of BCM. “Add to Backpacker's support the marquee list of industry leaders supporting this program, and BCM seems to have to created an irresistible value proposition. We've been humbled by the outpouring of support and interest from climbers, manufacturers, guides, and sponsors. Most exciting is the fact that BCM will be able to continue its 25% annual growth of our recreational mentoring program for at-risk teens, and probably accelerate that substantially, due to the success of these benefit climbs. As its been throughout our 16-year history, it's the outdoor industry that is making this possible.”
Outdoor industry leaders supporting this innovative fundraising program during the coming year include national sponsors Backpacker Magazine, JanSport, Keen, Marmot, Telus, and Timberland. Gear sponsors for this benefit climb series include Big Agnes, Camelbak, Clif Bar, Cloudveil, Gregory, Highgear USA, Ibex, Jetboil, Leki, Mammut, Montrail, MSR, Mountaineers Books, Optic Nerve, Outdoor Research, Petzl, Princeton Tech, Protech, The North Face, and Thorlos. Guide sponsors include Colorado Climbing School, Craig Van Hoy's Go Trek & Expeditions, EMS Climbing School, Exum Mountain Guides, On Top Mountaineering, Rainier Mountaineering Inc, Shasta Mountain Guides, and Sierra Mountaineering International.
