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It's a cause worth climbing for.

In 1997, Sean Patrick, an avid rock climber and community volunteer, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Her response to the shocking news was typical for Sean: keep fighting and think positive because "life is just more fun with a good attitude."

As she soldiered ahead after her third surgery in 2001, it was only natural for Sean to dedicate her talents and efforts to the formation of the HERA Foundation. HERA, which stands for Health, Empowerment, Research, and Advocacy, raises both ovarian cancer awareness and funding for research. Recognizing the empowerment potential of her favorite sport, Sean created the organization's signature event: HERA Climb for Life.

This March, Climb for Life (C4L) returns to the Washington DC area for its 5th straight year. Having passed away in early 2009, Sean Patrick, an inspiration for so many lives affected by cancer, will still be climbing in spirit.

Event Schedule

Tri-hosted by REI Fairfax, Sportrock, and Dancing Mind Yoga, the week-long 2010 schedule is chock full of clinics, celebrations, and sun salutations:

Climbing3/13 - Basic Skills classes at either Sportrock location3/13 - The official kick-off party with mini-clinics at REI Fairfax3/15 - Basic Skills classes at either Sportrock location3/20 - Climber's Festival and Awards party at Sportrock - Sterling

Yoga3/13 - Two sessions of Vinyasa Power Flow Yoga at Dancing Mind Yoga3/21 - Yoga Mala at Dancing Mind Yoga

Social3/14 - The inaugural picnic (a.k.a. Chili Cook off) hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Climbers at Carderock3/21 - Friends4Life party at Piola's Restaurant in Arlington

How You Can Register

With approximately 470 participants, Climb for Life raised $60,000 for cancer in 2009. To complement the $30 entrance fee (a fantastic deal in and of itself), many climbers join teams and push hard to raise impressive sums of money.

Visit the HERA website to sign up for the DC C4L.

What It Means to the Climbing Community

Climb for Life is a unique and meaningful event for the DC climbing community. Ocean Eiler of Mid-Atlanic Climbers says it best:

"HERA Climb for Life came to be a family reunion; one stretch of early spring you look forward to, when old friends come into town, good times are shared, and money is raised. Now it's not only a reunion, but also a remembrance and celebration of Sean's life and every other individual who is fighting or has passed from the fight against cancer."

Register: Register for Climb for Life in DCSocial Media: Facebook, Twitter

Climb for Life recruiting season is in full swing for Eyes in the Sky, the C4L team representing Mid-Atlantic Climbers. Visit their team page to join the fun.

You may notice something unusual about this edition of Trail Voice - the story is missing the "Cause.". It's July 4th weekend. Take a break from your trail building, invasive plant pulling, river cleaning, and stream monitoring activities. Enjoy the holiday!

No reason to take a break from the outdoors, however, as the Panorama area of Shenandoah National Park is right around the corner from this week's featured 4th of July lineup. No Shenandoah trip is complete without wine tasting - yes, that's a fact (unless you're of the younger set). Gadino Cellars (map) celebrates the holiday with Reds, Whites, and Blues, which is exactly as it sounds. That is, a day-long event complete with red wines, white wines, and blues music from Pops Walker. Following your wine tasting (which followed your Shenandoah hike), the day continues with Sperryville's July 4th Celebration and Fireworks (map) hosted by the Sperryville Volunteer Fire Department. The cost is $20 per car, but it's an all-day extravaganza for the family. Hiking, wine, and fireworks. Now that's what I call patriotic.

Make your commute a two-wheeled commute

The concept is simple. Unless you work from home (lucky you) or take Fridays off (even luckier), you will need to commute to work on the morning of Friday, May 21st. When it comes to commuting, many of us have a choice. Bike to Work Day, organized by WABA and Commuter Connections, is designed to help make your choice a bicycle.

In reality, Bike to Work Day is about much more than just riding your bike to work. It's a celebration of all things bicycle - complete with thirty-five festive pit stops, commuter convoys hundreds of cyclists strong, and a raucous rally at Washington DC's Freedom Plaza (map) to close out the event.

View Bike to Work Day 2010 in a larger map

On May 21st, if even one individual bikes to work who otherwise would have driven, Bike to Work Day 2010 would be a success. If Bike to Work Day can inspire that one individual to routinely bike to work, then that success is multiplied many times over.

Register for a Pit Stop: http://www.waba.org/events/btwd/pitstops.phpSocial Media: Facebook, Twitter

How are you going to celebrate Earth Day?

In its 40th year, Earth Day is bigger than ever. There are many ways to celebrate Earth Day, but Trail Voice has a favorite - and we hope you'll join us.

In conjunction with the Anacostia River Earth Day Cleanup and Celebration, the Anacostia Watershed Society's signature service event, Trail Voice will be hosting a cleanup event at Washington DC's Fort Dupont Park.

When: April 24th from 8:30 AM to 12 PMWhere: Fort Dupont Park Activity Center (Fort Dupont Dr SE, Washington DC)How to Get There: By car or by public transportation convoy (see details below)Why: To prove that the "Forgotten River" has not been forgotten

Click here to Sign-Up

Following the Cleanup, the Anacostia Watershed Society is throwing a party to celebrate Earth Day. Come out to Anacostia Park (in front of the skating pavilion) between 12 PM and 2 PM.

If you are taking public transportation, we've worked out a helpful meetup schedule to get us to the park on time:

8:15 AM - Meet at the entrance/exit of the Potomac Ave. metro station (Blue/Orange)8:30 AM - Pick up the V8 metrobus eastbound8:40 AM - Arrive at Randle Circle; walk into Fort Dupont ParkThere's a bus at 11:25 to take you back to the Potomac Ave. metro (or to the post-party).

The Trail Voice Fort Dupont site is just one of many Cleanup sites. You can find sites in Washington DC, Prince George's County, and Montgomery County.

View EarthDay2010 in a larger map

The Cleanup offers you a chance to be an environmental hero for a river that needs your help. On a river like this, you're almost guaranteed to visually notice the fruits of your labor after just a few hours of dedicated volunteer work.