On May 2nd, One Summit kicked off another incredible season in Boston with a day filled with courage, connection, and community. During our first Boston Climb for Courage program weekend of 2026, 18 Little Warriors were paired with 8 Navy SEAL Mentors, supported by a floating mentor, 3 Team Leaders, and 1 volunteer for a day of climbing, team-building, and unforgettable memories. During the program, many kids tried climbing for the very first time while making fast friends with their teammates and mentors.
Here's a snapshot of our participant group at this Climb for Courage program:
Not long after the program began, the gym quickly came alive as participants formed teams and embraced the spirit of the day. Our team, The Warriors, The Beach Nugget Climbers, and The Flying Boulders, brought enthusiasm, creativity, and determination to every challenge. Throughout the day, teammates encouraged one another from the ground, celebrated victories big and small, and demonstrated the resilience that defines the One Summit community. Some of the goals the Mentors and Little Warriors set together included:
Did this crew accomplish their goals over the course of the day? One Little Warrior put it best, “Heck Ya!” Climb for Courage is about much more than reaching the top of a climbing wall, however. It is an opportunity for children battling cancer and their siblings to discover their strength, build confidence, make friends who understand, and connect with mentors who model perseverance and teamwork. Every climb, every cheer, and every shared accomplishment serves as a reminder that challenges are easier to overcome when you have a community behind you.
The feedback we receive from families, mentors, and volunteers immediately after the climb illustrates the impact of our mission. The testimonials below reinforce our commitment to enhancing outcomes for our resilient Little Warriors through year-round support and dedication to serving the Boston area.
Testimonials
[My favorite moment of the day was] when I got to the top and celebrated!
– Little Warrior
[Today’s program was] inspiring.
– Team Leader
[My son] didn’t want the event to finish and he was proud of himself!
– Parent
As Navy SEALs, we go through hard times, but it’s a choice for us. These kids aren’t given a choice - in reality, they are stronger than all of us. We persevere because it’s our duty, they persevere because they have to.
– Navy SEAL Mentor
[My favorite moment of the day was] talking to my mentor and with the other kids.
– Little Warrior
This program continues to inspire and put so many aspects of life into perspective. I love this organization and am honored to be a part of it.
– Navy SEAL Mentor
[I learned from my Navy SEAL Mentor] live your life to the fullest.
– Little Warrior
[My kids] were tentative before and so excited after.
– Parent
[Before Climb for Courage I felt] excited and nervous. [After Climb for Courage I feel] awesome. Thank you for inviting me to Climb for Courage!!!
– Little Warrior
[My most memorable moment of the day was] watching my Little Warrior, after multiple tries, finally get to the top of the wall. He walked a little taller after that and couldn’t wait to do it again.
– Navy SEAL Mentor
[I learned from my Navy SEAL Mentor] that I can do hard things even if I can’t do it the first time.
– Little Warrior
[After Climb for Courage I feel] proud of myself.
– Little Warrior
[My most memorable moment of the day was] getting my mentees to trust me and to use the auto belay system.
– Navy SEAL Mentor
[Before Climb for Courage I felt] good. [After Climb for Courage I feel] even better because I got to the top two times!
– Little Warrior
[My most memorable moment of the day was] the joy on the kids’ faces.
– Navy SEAL Mentor
The momentum continued on May 3rd with our Climb Higher alum program, where 14 returning Little Warriors, 5 Navy SEAL Mentors, and 4 volunteers came together to reconnect and build upon the relationships and lessons developed through Climb for Courage. The day was filled with familiar faces, renewed confidence, and the continued growth that comes from stepping outside of your comfort zone alongside people who believe in you.
As one of our first program weekends of 2026, this Boston event set an inspiring tone for the year ahead. It showcased the power of resilience, the importance of connection, and the incredible impact that can happen when children, families, mentors, and volunteers come together around a shared mission.
Thank You to Our Partners and Supporters
Weekends like this are only possible because of the generous individuals, organizations, and businesses that invest in our mission. We are incredibly grateful to the Robinson Family, whose generous support continues to create opportunities for Little Warriors to meet Navy SEAL Mentors, enabling them to build meaningful connections through our programs.
A special thank you to the Bank of America Boston Marathon Official Charity Program and everyone who ran, donated, and supported Team One Summit. Your dedication helps make resilience-building experiences like Climb for Courage and Climb Higher possible long after the runners cross the finish line.
We also extend our sincere appreciation to OB Shipping and Golf Fights Cancer for their continued commitment to the One Summit mission and the families we serve. Your support over the years has kept our mission rolling. Thank you also to our friends at Born Primitive for continuing to support our mission and gear up our community with comfort and style!
A huge thank you is owed, as always, to Central Rock Gym and their incredible staff for partnering with us to bring our programs to life in Boston. Your team provides an incredible environment where courage, teamwork, and growth can thrive, and your gym continues to be the home of so many life-changing moments.
We are also grateful to those who literally fuel us with food! We are so very appreciative of Grill 23 & Bar for taking such great care of our Navy SEAL Mentors, Team Leaders, and Volunteers, and for helping them prepare for a weekend of programs. Once again, we are thankful for Chick-fil-A's support in helping keep all of our participants and staff energized and well-fed. Your generosity helps create a welcoming and memorable experience for everyone involved. Shout-out to our favorite delivery queen, Virginia, whose kindness and service with a smile are unmatched!
As always, we extend our deep gratitude to the amazing child life specialists, social workers, nurses, and staff at local hospitals and clinics who support our mission, help us share our program opportunities with families, and assist with participant registration. For this program, we especially want to thank our friends at both the Jimmy Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital’s Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy Center for ensuring that more families access these resilience-building programs.
To our alum families who continue to share our mission with new families in your networks — thank you for being ambassadors of our work. Your voices help us grow our community of Little Warriors in New England and beyond.
Lastly, we are eternally grateful to our Navy SEAL mentors, dedicated Team Leaders and volunteers, Young Professionals Board, and everyone in our community who comes together to make these weekends happen. It takes a village, and we couldn’t do it without you.
As we continue onward into 2026, we're looking forward to all that is to come in our Boston community and beyond. See you out there!
Are you interested in participating in an upcoming Climb for Courage program, or do you know someone who might be interested in joining us? Please apply on our website or email maxwell@onesummit.org for more information!
