Encinitas Woman Summits Shasta for Breast Cancer Prevention

Editor's Note: The information below was pulled from a Breast Cancer Fund news release.

Encinitas resident Diane Silberman summated Mt. Shasta June 20 in an effort to raise awareness about breast cancer prevention.

Silberman, along with 27 climbers from around the US, scaled the 14,179-foot mountain as part of the Breast Cancer Fund’s 13th annual Climb Against the Odds Challenge. Of those climbers, 23 made it to the top.

Silberman raised more than $7,000 to benefit Breast Cancer Fund and its mission to eliminate the environmental causes of breast cancer by hosting local events, including Lunafest at La Paloma Theater in downtown Encinitas. She is no stranger to fundraising and is the founder of “Boobs on the Move” a grassroots effort to empower people to stop breast cancer through active prevention and generosity.

Silberman dedicated her climb to her mom, Mary Jo Weschler, who died from breast cancer in 1993 at the age of 46.

“I climbed to honor my mom and the courage it takes to face breast cancer, as well as to show my family and friends that anything is possible if you set your mind to it and put one foot in front of the other.” Silberman said.

This was Silberman’s first trip to Mt. Shasta’s 14,169 foot summit, and she it admits it was a grueling climb with wind, snow, and ice, even though the weather conditions were ideal. She had no real prior climbing experience but was determined to participate. Silberman began training in January and travelled all over southern California and Arizona to find mountains to climb with the support of her husband, Kevin, and her children, Gavin, age 9, Eli, age 7, and Margot, age 6.

“It was great to visit all the beautiful state and national parks,” Silberman said. “It’s been really soulful and has enriched my life. I will continue to hike and hope I can encourage others to join me!”

Silberman said the inspiration she pulled from others also helped her make it to the top.

“I carried prayer flags inscribed with my mom’s name, and the names of many others affected by breast cancer to the summit of Mt. Shasta,” said Silberman. “I carried them in my pack and used them as inspiration to reach the top of Mt. Shasta, one step at a time.  At the summit I raised them high in the wind as an act of inspiration, hope, love and remembrance. I hope my participation will inspire others to climb mountains for prevention.”

The Breast Cancer Fund has led 12 successful mountaineering expeditions of inspiring women and men, who climb to honor loved ones who have faced the disease and, for many, to honor their own experiences with cancer. The Breast Cancer Fund's past Climb Against the Odds expeditions include Mt. Aconcagua, Argentina in 1995; Alaska's Mt. McKinley in 1998; Mt Fuji, Japan in 2000; Mt. Shasta, California in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012; and Mt. Rainier in 2005.

Sponsors of the 2012 climb included; Luna, Clif Bar Family, The North Face, Klean Kanteen, Osprey, Leki, Ahnu, IBEX, Smartwool, Adventure Medical Kits, Princeton Tec, Julbo, Outdoor Research, Shasta Mountain Guides, Pistil, Chums, Pentax, Scarpa, Sterling Rope, Beyond Coastal Sun Care, Jet Boil and Boarding for Breast Cancer.

Silberman’s personal fundraising page at http://prevention.breastcancerfund.org/goto/Diane

You can contact Silberman personally by emailing diane@boobsonthemove.org

To learn more about the Breast Cancer Fund www.breastcancerfund.org

To learn more about Boobs on the Move www.boobsonthemove.org