Our team landed in southern California on the first day of spring, excited to start the season with our friends in San Diego! Our second Climb for Courage (CFC) program of the year was another incredible weekend with a terrific community of people. We had a great turnout consisting of 15 Little Warriors, 15 Navy SEAL mentors, and 3 Team Leaders. Nine of our Navy SEAL mentors were brand new to our program, many of whom had been trying to get involved for years, and their schedules finally allowed them to participate. Two of our extraordinary Team Leaders are members of our San Diego Young Professionals Board. It was a terrific group of San Diego folks coming together for a special day of climbing and connection.
After each Little Warrior was united with a Navy SEAL during the opening matching ceremony, each of our three teams got to work coming up with a unique team name. These names did not disappoint. This time, our teams were Jagger Blues, the Black-Eyed Dolphins, and Groovy Hoof Beats! Once the team names had been set, each Little Warrior spent time with their mentor, creating their goals for the day ahead. Some of their set goals included:
- "Get to the top using the same color [holds].”
- "Have fun and challenge ourselves.”
- "Climb the easiest and hardest to the top!”
- "Climb to the top 3 times.”
- "Get to the highest point.”
- "Touch every pattern of rocks!”
- “Have fun!”
Before long, the mentors and Little Warriors were spread out all over the gym, tackling their goals while enjoying each other's company. It was a day filled with laughter, smiling faces, climbing feats, and solidified bonds. As usual, the day ended with the parents and caregivers returning to the gym to watch their children climb, followed by our Pinning Ceremony. During the ceremony, each Little Warrior received a Trident pin, a meaningful and respected symbol for all Navy SEALs. One by one, each mentor and Little Warrior pair was called up in front of the crowd, and the mentors shared something they were proud of their mentee for. It's always so powerful to hear the anecdotes and accolades; it's one of the One Summit team's favorite parts of the day.
Before each Climb for Courage program, we ask the Little Warriors to tell us what they think a Navy SEAL is. In answer to that question, we wanted to share some of the responses we got from this San Diego program's participants:
- "A person who protects our country.”
- "Someone who serves in the military at the top level.”
- "Men in the ocean serving the country.”
- “I think a Navy SEAL is a soldier that works on water and sometimes land.”
- "Military men who help each other/working together.”
- “The are very strong and brave.”
- “A soldier that trains hard to become what he is today. They work as a team; they are strong physically and mentally. They are the best.”
Indeed, they are. We always leave Climb for Courage weekends with a renewed sense of gratitude for our dedicated Navy SEAL mentors who selflessly give their time, energy, and skills to ensure our Little Warriors and their families have the experience of a lifetime with One Summit.
The feedback we receive from families, mentors, and volunteers immediately following the climb illustrates our mission's impact. The testimonials below fortify our commitment to improving outcomes for our resilient Little Warriors with year-round support and dedication to serving the San Diego area.
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Testimonials
[I overcome today’s challenges by] trying again and not giving up.
Little Warrior
I believe it is our purpose to provide for our country and give back when able. I’m eternally grateful to the Navy and what it has given me, so if I can help anyone become resilient and keep pushing, it’s all worth it.
Navy SEAL Mentor
[Both of my kids] loved this experience and hanging with their mentors. My son said it was “the best day of his life!”
Parent
We all joined the teams to work together to accomplish a common goal. We are all service-minded, and I believe this is an incredible way to give back to our community and those who are currently in a different, more difficult fight or struggle.
Navy SEAL Mentor
I did harder things than I thought I would and I got better at rock climbing.
Little Warrior
Working with these kids just does something for the soul. Knowing you get to make even a small impact in their lives is truly amazing. Being able to give back in this way is something that everyone should put effort into.
Navy SEAL Mentor
[My most memorable moment of the day was] watching my mentee feel special and climb to the top of the wall.
Navy SEAL Mentor
I loved it and want to come back. I want to live here!
Little Warrior
[After the Climb for Courage experience my daughter has] extreme excitement and confidence! She has been talking about her experience a lot. She wore her hat that her mentor gave her all day yesterday. Today, at the hospital, our nurse saw Layla's CFC bracelet and they talked about it because our nurse has been a past volunteer. She is currently writing about her climbing day in her journal.
Parent
[My most memorable moment of the day was] seeing my mentee push through a hard route after falling off the wall. She immediately got back on the wall and found a way to make it up. Her tenacity and determination was awesome to see.
Navy SEAL Mentor
[After Climb for Courage I feel] happy and sad because I had so much fun.
Little Warrior
Being able to be side by side with a Navy SEAL [helped] my son believe in himself and gave him the confidence that he is able to do many things. It made him forget his fears.
Parent
It was amazing being able to climb with a kid who’s been through so much and see them have fun and regain their confidence.
Navy SEAL Mentor
My daughter hasn't done anything like that in a long time and it reminded her what she's capable of.
Parent
[After Climb for Courage] I feel confident and more brave. I really like climbing and want to come again!
Little Warrior
[Climb for Courage] is an incredible experience that's tremendously rewarding. Gives us great perspective that we're not as hard as we think we are, there are kids way tougher than us, and it's great to be able to give them a day where they aren't patients in treatment, just kids having a blast.
Navy SEAL Mentor
[I overcome today’s challenges by] listening to my mentor say it would be alright.
Little Warrior
[After Climb for Courage] our kids were super happy and were very proud to achieve their goals. They were VERY tired!
Parent
[I feel] good, proud, and not scared as much!
Little Warrior
These kids have been through some serious adversity and are still giving climbing their all - inspirational!!
Navy SEAL Mentor
[My favorite moment of the day was] overcoming fear and realizing that good can come from stepping outside of your comfort zone.
Little Warrior
The fact that there is an event that is designed to be a 1 on 1 session between a SEAL and a child is an awesome opportunity to just show up and serve a child in a super simple way that could have a major impact in their lives.
Navy SEAL Mentor
[Before I felt] nervous and excited. Now I feel happy and joyful!
Little Warrior
On Sunday morning we were back at the gym to host Climb Higher (CH), our alum program that continues to be very popular in the San Diego area. At our CH program we invite past Climb for Courage participants back to participate in another round of rock-climbing action with our local Navy SEAL mentors. We warmly welcomed back 19 Little Warriors and 11 Navy SEAL mentors and even got to meet 6 Navy SEALs brand new to our One Summit community who volunteered to do some belaying for our families!
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We couldn't do what we do without the incredible generosity of our sponsors and nonprofit and corporate partners: Vertical Hold, AXOS Bank, Kendra Scott, Pass the Bricks, and ZEAL Cares.
Vertical Hold's dedication to our mission helps us forge deep connections between our Little Warriors and their Navy SEAL mentors, as they provide their climbing gym at no cost for our Climb for Courage and Climb Higher programs. A huge thank you to Ben, Justin, Alana, Dorian, and the entire Vertical Hold staff for their ongoing generosity and attention to detail. You all are true One Summit Champions and integral to making our mission a reality in San Diego. In addition, we extend a huge thank you to Alyssa Zintak for snapping photos for us during Climb for Courage. We truly appreciate your wonderful work capturing so many special moments throughout the day.
Additionally, our Climb for Courage and Climb Higher programs would not be possible without the unwavering support of AXOS Bank and Golf Fights Cancer. AXOS Bank's steadfast partnership allows us to continue offering resilience-building programs in San Diego, benefiting countless Little Warriors and mentors year-round through our Climb for Courage/Climb Higher programs and our Community Engagement events. Meanwhile, Golf Fights Cancer harnesses the collective fundraising power of the entire golf community to make tangible differences in our programs nationally.
We are also incredibly grateful to our program collaborators for their creative contributions to our community. We are so grateful to Rebeka, Alicia, and Isabella from Kendra Scott's Kendra Cares program for bringing a creative outlet to our Little Warriors and mentors during another memorable Climb for Courage. Their continued partnership and dedication to our mission added lots of sparkle to our weekend, and we can't thank them enough. A heartfelt thank you also goes to Kristine and Mateo from Pass the Bricks San Diego, whose dedication to crafting fun and engaging LEGO kits for our participants goes above and beyond. Their passion for sharing the joy of LEGO with their community is truly inspiring.
A big thank you is also in order for a longtime friend of One Summit, Julia Sora Wykoff, founder of Zeal Cares. This year, Zeal Cares is once again generously providing our Little Warriors, family members, mentors, and volunteers with her incredibly effective, colorful, and fun hydrating lip balms. Thank you for your continued dedication to pediatric cancer patients, their families, and their supporters, Julia!
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We would also like to share our deep gratitude and appreciation for the child life specialists, social workers, nurses, and other staff who ensure patients and families in the San Diego area know about our program. For this Climb for Courage program, we especially want to thank our friends at Rady Children's Hospital for sharing our flyers with patients and families and assisting with getting them registered and excited about attending. We really could not do what we do without their assistance. We continue to be in awe of the critical work you do with patients and families every single day. We also want to thank our alum families for spreading the word about our program opportunities to other families in your networks, which allows us to continue growing our community of like-minded warriors in the San Diego area. We couldn't reach the amount of families that we do without your recruitment help.
We are already looking forward to returning to San Diego later this year for our next Climb for Courage and Climb Higher weekend!
Are you interested in participating in an upcoming Climb for Courage? Please apply on our website or email maxwell@onesummit.org for more information!
