U.S. and Japan Join Forces to Conquer Breast Cancer

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., (August 15, 2000) - In one of the largest cross-cultural events to date focused on raising awareness about breast cancer, more than 400 cancer activistsmany of them breast cancer survivorsfrom the U.S. and Japan will climb to the summit of Mt. Fuji (12,388 feet) on August 21 - 22. Organized by The Breast Cancer Fund, The Japan Breast Cancer Network, and the Meaningful Life Therapy Group, Climb Against the Odds - Mt. Fuji 2000 brings together breast cancer physicians, scientists, activists and hundreds of women and men who have faced breast cancer, with the goal of inspiring hope and determination among women and families in both countries.

"It will be a great joy and honor to climb Mt. Fuji with women and men from Japan who, like us, are determined to stop breast cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide," said Andrea Martin, breast cancer survivor, activist and founder of The Breast Cancer Fund. "Together, we hope to draw attention to the fact that breast cancer is an increasing threat to every generation of women, whether they live in San Francisco or Tokyo. The goal of the climb is to use the physical, mental and spiritual strength that it takes to climb a mountain and to face breast cancer to show our determination to end the epidemic."

The U.S. teamwith spirits high and gear packedleave for Tokyo from the international terminal at San Francisco International Airport on Wednesday, August 17 on a 1:00 pm JAL flight. Team training began more than one year ago. The U.S. team of 60 represents a diverse group, ranging in age from 10 to nearly 70 years of age. Team members hail from 13 states, in addition to Argentina and the Philippines. Some climbers, like Elisa "Bambi" Schwartz, never exercised regularly prior to training for Mt. Fuji. Others, including Lead Guide Iris Lancaster, are experienced athletes who have climbed with The Fund many times. Family members who have lost loved ones to breast cancer will also make the climb. Charles Wilson, who's wife, Marcy Ely, was a member of The Fund's 1998 Climb Against the Odds -Mt. McKinley team who lost her eight year battle against breast cancer last year, will climb in her honor.

Each U.S. team member has raised a minimum of $5,000and some up to $30,000for The Breast Cancer Fund. With these contributions, and corporate sponsorship led by Applied Materials, Inc., The Fund expects to raise more than $700,000, which it will place in cutting-edge programs in research, education, patient support and advocacy.

The Mt. Fuji climb grows out of a special friendship between Andrea Martin and Dr. Jinroh Itami, a respected oncologist who leads the Meaningful Life Therapy Group, a cancer support community in Japan. The Japanese climbing team includes 90 breast cancer survivors among its 300 climbers.

The Breast Cancer Fund (TBCF) is a national nonprofit organization, founded in 1992 to innovate and accelerate the response to the breast cancer epidemic. Its mission is to end breast cancer through research, action and policy initiatives that support (1) replacement of mammography with safer, more reliable detection methods; (2) non-toxic treatments; (3) elimination of preventable causes of the disease, including those in the environment; and (4) access to the best available medical care and information for everyone. TBCF creates awareness and funding through mountain climbs and physical challenges, art exhibits, films and cutting-edge advocacy campaigns, conferences and educational materials.