Resilience &amp; Blog

Blog

Meet One Summit’s 2024 Boston Marathon Runners

April 5, 2024

One Summit's 2024 Boston Marathon Team is ready to hit the start line! Meet the runners who will be representing One Summit at the Boston Marathon.

2023 and All That Came to Be

December 29, 2023

Once again, it’s hard to believe it, but the end of another year is upon us. 2023 was the first year since before the pandemic that One Summit was truly back in full force providing programs and community engagement...

Back to the Beach | Climb for Courage Virginia Beach 2023

December 4, 2023

On November 18th, we again concluded our year of Climb for Courage (CFC) programs in Virginia Beach. This was our second climb in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area, a community where the SEAL teams are embedded...

Significant Impact | Climb for Courage New York City 2023

October 27, 2023

Whenever I go to New York City, I instantly feel overwhelmed by the busyness in the air: the honking of cars, the rush of people, and the high-rise buildings looming overhead. It is daunting and frightening for...

Our 2023 Falmouth Road Race Warriors

August 18, 2023

On August 20th, 10,000 runners are expected to run the Falmouth Road Race. Each year the race draws an international field of Olympians, elite, and recreational runners out to enjoy the iconic 7-mile seaside course.

Coming Full Circle | Climb for Courage Boston 2023

May 18, 2023

Our 21st Climb for Courage (CFC) took place in Boston on Saturday, April 29th, just over 11 years since One Summit hosted our first event in March 2014. The world has changed in countless ways since then...

View from the Starting Line - Our 2023 Boston Marathon Warriors

April 4, 2023

On Patriots Day, Monday, April 17th, 30,000 runners from 122 countries are expected to make the 26.2 mile journey from Hopkinton to Copley Square. Marking the 10th anniversary of the tragic Boston Marathon bombing.

Reflecting on our First Program of the Year | Climb for Courage San Diego 2023

March 9, 2023

It’s been quite some time since I’ve sat back and taken the time to write and reflect on the impact and changes of the One Summit program since my arrival in 2017.

2022 in the Rearview

December 7, 2022

Here at One Summit, we can hardly believe it, but the end of 2022 draws near. We’ve been reflecting on the past twelve months and are grateful for an incredible year full of rebuilding, growth, and resilience.

Back in the Big Apple | Climb for Courage New York City 2022

October 13, 2022

One Summit returned to New York City to host our core experiential learning programs for the first time since the start of the Covid pandemic. Our eighteenth Climb for Courage (CFC) was held on October 1st, followed...

A Beautiful Beginning Worth the Wait | Climb for Courage Virginia Beach 2022

November 10, 2022

Our fourth and final Climb for Courage (CFC) program for 2022 was long in the making. Launching our first climb in Virginia Beach was initially scheduled for July 2020.

A Triumphant Return to the West Coast | Climb for Courage San Diego 2022

September 14, 2022

After over three years away due to the Covid pandemic, our core One Summit programs made their long-anticipated and triumphant returns to San Diego!

Run for Resilience - OS Falmouth Road Race Team 2022

July 25, 2022

People run races for different reasons. For many it is to see who is the fastest. For others it is to see who can push themselves to continue through exhaustion to cross the finish line no matter how long it takes...

Making Memories, Building Resilience | Climb for Courage Boston 2022

April 13, 2022

It was recently announced that Tufts Children's Hospital would be closing its doors this July. This news hit us hard at One Summit, and we sprang into action to host a Climb for Courage to celebrate the patients...

Thank You Axos Bank - Community Engagement San Diego

March 16, 2022

One Summit's return to San Diego did not disappoint. Thanks to the generosity of our partner, Axos Bank, fifty of our little warriors, mentors, and their families attended an impressive...

Mind over Miles - Boston Marathon 2022 Warriors

February 21, 2022

Marathons and life mirror each other in specific ways. Both can sometimes be difficult, challenging, and present obstacles. It's how you mentally approach these times...

2021 - A Photo Retrospect

December 1, 2021

“How did it get late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get late so soon?”...

Back At It | Climb for Courage Boston 2021

October 1, 2021

In March of 2020, I don't think many people thought the COVID Pandemic would halt life as we know it to the extent it has. It has been 18 months since...

Boston Marathon 2021 - Why We Run

September 1, 2021

After being canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Boston Marathon is back! This year on October 11th, six runners will be running in-person...

Hang on to Hope

December 16, 2020

‍Hang on to hope…a fitting motto for 2020…and 2021! It has been a remarkable year. One that brought new challenges, changed the way we live and how we connect...

OS & the Emmy's

April 2, 2021

In June 2018, Fox Sports San Diego, Inside San Diego Sports, featured One Summit and the inspired relationship between Caden & Talia Timmer and their mentor...

Six Runners, Six Families, One Shared Mission

March 5, 2020

On September 14th, six runners will be running on behalf of our mission in the Boston Marathon, marking the fourth year in a row One Summit has been selected as a partner of the...

A Prism of Perspectives | Climb for Courage NYC 2019

November 4, 2019

Little Warriors. Mentors. Families. Team Leaders. Board Members. Gym Staff. Child Life Specialists. Local Officials. Partners. And more. Each Climb for Courage...

Brick by Brick: Building Resilience | Climb for Courage Boston 2019

July 11, 2019

“Resilience” is a word we use every day at One Summit. And for good reason. It is – after all – heavily emphasized in our mission statement. Drawing on his own personal experiences...

Snapshot | Climb for Courage San Diego 2019

June 10, 2019

One Summit held its third-ever Climb for Courage in San Diego this past May. While the mission and venue remained the same, the experience featured a new group of participants...

The People and Purpose behind One Summit's 2019 Boston Marathon Team

March 25, 2019

While One Summit has been a proud partner of John Hancock in the Marathon Non-Profit Program since 2016, this year’s team is perhaps the most diverse to date.

Feeling Inspired by Those You Inspire | Climb for Courage NYC 2018

November 28, 2018

Last month, One Summit descended on New York City for its final Climb for Courage of 2018. While the program was identical in structure to the two climbs held prior in San Diego and Boston, the weekend...

The Timmer's Journey | Realizing the Light at the End of the Tunnel

September 7, 2018

On Sept. 8, 2018, 15 Navy SEALs will be competing in the inaugural One Summit Challenge. To inspire our competitors, we will be sharing three family stories leading up to the Challenge. The third is below...

The Tarin's Journey | Restoring Life's Adventure

August 28, 2018

On September 23, 2014, Jake Tarin was diagnosed with T-Cell Leukemia at the age of 12. The two years that followed brought endless appointments at Rady Children’s Hospital, a bone marrow stem cell transplant, two...

The Regan's Journey | Finding Purpose and New Perspective

August 22, 2018

When your child is diagnosed with cancer, your world is forever changed. Your outlook on life and how you approach every day is altered...

Proving Resilience Inspires Resilience, Mile After Mile

April 25, 2018

Resilience within one can inspire resilience within another. This has always been the cornerstone of One Summit’s mission and programs, whether it be Climb for Courage or any of the organization’s many year-round...

Meet One Summit's 2018 Boston Marathon Team

April 4, 2018

On April 16, 2018, six courageous runners will be competing in the 2018 Boston Marathon through the John Hancock Nonprofit Marathon Program to raise awareness and funds for One Summit’s mission and programs.

Reinforcing Old and New Relationships | Climb for Courage Boston 2018

June 19, 2018

Earlier this June, One Summit held its tenth Climb for Courage program in the place where it all started: Boston.

Inspiring Stories | Climb for Courage San Diego 2018

March 28, 2018

Thirty kids and twenty-five Navy SEALs descended on Vertical Hold Rock Climbing Gym earlier this month for Climb for Courage, San Diego. Although they varied in age and life experience, they all shared one commonality.

Climb for Courage 2016

November 14, 2016

Waiting in the lobby, twenty-one children and their parents listen to Adam La Reau, Founder of One Summit, welcome them to the Climb for Courage at Central Rock Gym in Watertown.

Children with Cancer Find Like-Minded Companionship in U.S. Navy SEALs

November 13, 2016

Think back to when you were a teenager. You have your whole life ahead of you. Along your clear, wide trail through the forest of life you encounter a mountain - you can’t go around this mountain; you are standing...

Jimmy's Impactful Experience

June 9, 2017

I’d like to express to you and the rest of the “One Summit” crew how grateful I am for the opportunity to share in the “events” associated with your organization. I do mean events...

Kendra Scott & Kendra Cares

December 21, 2023

One Summit is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the Kendra Cares Program to share our like-minded missions to continue the fight against pediatric cancer. Throughout the year, our Climb for Courage...

Adam Hom: Survivor & Thriver

August 25, 2023

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” The day was July 6th, 2018. Adam had turned seven years old and was celebrating his birthday at Legoland in sunny California with friends and family. It was a beautiful day, filled with cake...

Golf Fights Cancer and the Golf Marathon

June 5, 2023

We have crossed the unofficial starting line of summer and as we head into June here at One Summit, we’re gearing up for another Golf Marathon fundraiser hosted by Golf Fights Cancer (GFC) on June 8th and 9th.

You. Don’t. Quit.

April 21, 2023

Three simple words…but three of the most challenging words to live by. Three words that Navy SEALs and pediatric cancer warriors live and breathe by. Three words that build resilience, strength, and fortitude...

Stories from the Summit | Resilience In and Out of the Pool

March 31, 2023

Last month we hosted another Stories from the Summit, with special guest Anna Johannes, Paralympic bronze medalist and current Strategist of Inclusive Design at Interbrand.

The Powell Family

November 25, 2022

On the last day of September, about 24 hours before our Climb for Courage (CFC) began in New York City, a new family referral hit my inbox from Candlelighters NYC.

Connor’s Story

August 19, 2022

Connor Heffler was recovering from surgery following the removal of a cancerous tumor from his spine when his mom Beth first learned about One Summit. "His doctor said, there's a group who would love for him to go...

OS Mentor Perry Yee

May 20, 2022

In our fast-paced, over-scheduled, hectic day-to-day lives, it’s easy to think we’re too busy to make yet another commitment, even if it’s for a good cause. But Mentor Perry Yee made no excuses when he first heard...

Stories from the Summit | Life, Striving for the Highs While Navigating the Lows

March 21, 2022

This month we hosted our third Stories from the Summit guest speaker, Joe Andruzzi. It was wonderful having our community of warriors come together and hear Joe’s incredible...

From Apprehension to Anything is Possible

November 19, 2021

A person’s attitude can determine success. Anthony Guzman’s smile is the first indication of his awe-inspiring positive attitude. On December 24th, 2019, Anthony's life...

Stories from the Summit | Paralympian & OS Mentor Dan Cnossen

October 19, 2021

On September 9th, we hosted our second Stories from the Summit with Dan Cnossen, U.S. Navy SEAL, Paralympic Athlete, and One Summit Mentor. The life lessons...

Ethan’s Story

August 20, 2021

“Life has no limitations, except the ones you make.” This quote by Les Brown immediately came to mind when I heard Ethan Moore’s story. Ethan is Katie and...

Welcome New One Summit Board Members!

February 18, 2021

‍What makes a great non-profit board member? Some of the most significant board members started their journey to service with nothing but a passion...

Stories from the Summit | You Are the Author of Your Own Story - Dr. Jonny Kim

June 25, 2021

As part of our commitment to our community of resilient warriors, we launched Stories from the Summit this month, an online enrichment series designed to inspire...

In Her Own Words

April 16, 2021

‍I first learned about One Summit and its mission from a co-worker whose husband was a mentor. The concept of pairing Navy SEALs with children fighting cancer...

The Story Behind the Nate WOD Challenge

March 19, 2021

2 – 4 – 8 At first glance, just a set of numbers, but they have significant meaning to many who knew Nate Hardy. The numbers mark February 4, 2008 - the day Nate made the ultimate sacrifice.

Team Leader Christina

November 16, 2020

Behind each One Summit Climb for Courage are several unsung heroes who make the event go off without a hitch. Like their husbands, they are quiet professionals...

The Sterling Family

January 23, 2020

‍At One Summit, we believe there is an opportunity embedded in each challenge and setback we inevitably encounter in life. Those who have endured any form of trauma or adversity...

Eric Sun

November 29, 2019

‍Nervous. Nauseous. Tired. These were the three words Eric Sun used to describe how he felt the morning of Climb for Courage, Boston in November 2014.

Climbing Higher with the Giove Family

September 26, 2019

‍Mason Giove was 11 years old in 2015 when he filled out his application to participate in One Summit’s Boston Climb for Courage. He listed a few of his favorite things: “play video games,” “hang out...

Like-Minded Warriors Find Resilience on the Rock Wall — [Bittersweet Monthly Feature]

July 1, 2019

ne Summit was nominated and selected as the July 2019 feature on Bittersweet Monthly, a documentary-style storytelling platform and 501(c)3 Foundation that highlights...

The Khan Family

May 28, 2019

‍At One Summit, we recognize that we have the opportunity to create many moments for our families and mentors worth capturing on camera – whether they be at one of our Climbs for Courage, community events or elsewhere.

The Story of Nate and Josh Hardy

March 1, 2018

January 6, 2018 marked twenty-five years since our oldest son Josh died of brain cancer. Donna and I drove to Ogunquit, Maine and walked the Marginal Way, one of his favorite places.

Dan Cnossen

March 11, 2019

‍The life lessons Dan Cnossen can teach are endless. Each one is tied to a deeply transformative experience he’s had in his own life. Some have been triumphant. Others traumatic. All have shaped his perspective...

Rachael Fussell

January 24, 2019

‍As we waited for the kids from Dana-Farber to arrive by police escort, everyone at the very first Climb for Courage in 2014 was a little nervous. How quickly could these young cancer patients bond with the...

Executive Director, Dianne M. Lynch

November 16, 2018

‍In the fifteen years after her UMass graduation, Dianne McCaffrey Lynch enjoyed a successful career and a happy life. She made a mark in professional sports, with the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation...

Salma Costa and “The Day I Got to be a Navy SEAL”

August 31, 2018

At the age of three, Salma Costa was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. After multiple brain surgeries, nine months of chemotherapy, radiation and various trail adaptive therapies...

Founder, Adam La Reau – The Journey to One Summit

‍Adam La Reau has never let an obstacle stop his forward progress. His strength lies in his heart and his will. After graduating from high school, he entered the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy...

Kimi Schroder

‍The young girl faced an audience of hardened men, all with many deployments to war torn regions around the world. She was the keynote speaker. They watched her intently.

Against All Odds: The Story of an Unbreakable Bond Between a Pediatric Cancer Patient and his Navy SEAL Mentor

November 17, 2016

What do childhood cancer patients and Navy SEALs have in common? Resilience? Grit? Tenacity? A sum of all these traits unifies our like-minded warriors in a special and transformational companionship.

Stories from the Summit | Julia Sora & Zeal Cares

May 6, 2022

On May 5th, we hosted our fourth Stories from the Summit with Julia Sora Wykoff, the 17-year-old founder of Zeal Cares. Inspired by a friend’s mom who was battling breast cancer and suffering from dry skin, Julia...

Brian Pierce: Competing in the Boston Marathon, Former Navy Seal Overcomes Adversity and Inspires Childhood Cancer Patients to “Never Give Up”

March 10, 2016

This week we are highlighting one of our beloved Navy SEAL mentors, Brian Pierce. Brian began mentoring with One Summit in November of 2014 at our second Climb For Courage event after he...

Amazingly Woven: The Story of Carry The Load & Whiskey Bravo

November 10, 2023

Early November tends to be a time of quiet contemplation; daylight quietly dwindles, only lasting what seems like a few hours; the end of the year rapidly approaches, and, of course, Veterans Day takes place...

Healing Conversations: A One Mission Podcast with OS Friend Abby Pastynak

October 30, 2023

Last month, a friend of One Summit, Abby Pastyrnak, was featured on Healing Conversations – a One Mission Podcast hosted by Ashley Haseotes. Ashley founded One Mission, a childhood cancer nonprofit that...

September Letters

September 22, 2023

As our One Summit community knows well, we hold storytelling in high regard and appreciate it as an essential part of the journey toward posttraumatic growth. Telling our stories helps connect us as human...

How to Get Through Hard Times: A TED Talk by Former U.S. Navy SEAL Jason Redman

July 21, 2023

On a recent trip to Maine one drizzly, warm afternoon, my wife and I took cover from the rain at a favorite local bookstore. We go into the shop anytime we’re in town—my wife, while a bibliophile herself, usually wanders

Help and Hope Happen Here Podcast Hosted by Mark Levine

October 21, 2022

Last month, One Summit Founder Adam La Reau and Executive Director Dianne Lynch, were featured on the Help and Hope Happen Here podcast hosted by Mark Levine.

Madefor with Pat Dossett

June 24, 2022

Last month, when former Navy SEAL and Madefor CEO Pat Dossett received a text from One Summit founder Adam La Reau, he picked up the phone and called him back right away.

The Power of Posttraumatic Growth

January 22, 2022

Most people begin the new year with a renewed sense of purpose. Some set yearly goals, others want to learn more about themselves and the world, and sometimes...

One Summit’s Annual Report 2019-2020

July 16, 2021

This month, we decided to take some time to reflect on One Summit’s accomplishments over the past few years and those of our community. Although it’s crucial we continue...

Wellness, It’s All About You

May 14, 2021

Wellness, a term used frequently and even more so during the past year, is imperative to us all; but especially to little warriors battling cancer and their families.

The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World

January 15, 2021

‍“Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional.” So goes an old adage quoted in this book. In many ways, it is central to our understanding...

Healing After Loss by Martha W. Hickman

January 23, 2020

‍Some of the smallest books in my library pack the biggest wallop of insights and wisdom. One of these is Martha W. Hickman’s Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations for Working...

Growth After Trauma

October 23, 2020

2020 is permeated with trauma, resilience, and growth. During this upheaval of all things familiar, many of us turn to family, friends, and professionals to help us navigate the overwhelming...

Bryan Doerries and The Power of Stories

December 30, 2019

‍Famine, Plague, War, Enslavement, Disease, Death. In our time on this planet, humans have both caused and endured many seismic traumas. Survivors grieve their losses...

Talking With Children About Loss by Maria Trozzi

June 17, 2019

‍Maria Trozzi was a featured speaker at the Mentor Dinner the night before One Summit’s first Climb for Courage in 2014. She has counseled grieving children since the 1980s, when she founded...

Like-Minded Partners

August 29, 2019

‍If you’ve been following our work at One Summit, you’ve likely heard of our Profiles in Resilience series, which for the past year and a half has been featuring inspiring stories from our community of warriors.

The Story You Need To Tell by Sandra Marinella

December 19, 2018

‍Humans are hardwired for stories. Myths, mysteries, tragedies, comedies — in poems, films, theater, books, or cartoons. The form, medium or place matter less than the tales themselves, full of challenges, journeys...

Upside: The New Science of Post-Traumatic Growth

October 16, 2018

‍In 2004, D. J. Skelton was a young second lieutenant, fresh out of West Point, leading a rifle platoon in Fallujah, Iraq, when his unit was heavily attacked. He suffered grievous wounds that eventually took an eye...

Adam Brown – Resilient Warrior

When we arrived at Norfolk airport on February 5, 2008 – the day after we learned our son Nate was killed in action – a tall, handsome, dark-haired guy introduced himself at the baggage claim area.

Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield

Most Navy SEALs avoid books about Navy SEALs. One exception is Fearless, featured in our June Resources in Resilience blog. SEALs do, however, read widely for inspiration, and one of their favorites is Gates...

Cannondale Presents: High Road – A Story of Resilience, Persistence, and Strength

May 22, 2023

Recently at One Summit, we came across an incredible video that sits soundly in the posttraumatic growth vein, one of the underpinnings of our programs. The video, produced by Gnarly Bay and Cannondale Bicycles...

A Child Life Specialist’s Review of Rescue & Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship

January 31, 2023

Here at One Summit, we work with and deeply respect the expertise of child life specialists in our partner hospitals. Certified child life specialists (CCLS) are incredibly valuable clinicians in the world of pediatric..