Jodi's Climb for Hope

Honoring My Sister, Jodi Buerger, on International Women's Day On International Women’s Day, I want to take a moment to honor my sister, Jodi. Her five-year ordeal with breast cancer wasn’t just a struggle—it was a testament to resilience, strength, and selflessness. That experience led me to start?Jodi's Climb for Hope’s, but our 40+ years together before that taught me so much more. Jodi wasn’t the most academic or the best athlete, yet there she was—playing Division 1 lacrosse at Boston University. She simply?refused to be outworked. She embodied what it means to?show up—for family, for friends, and for those who needed support the most. Even when I lived 3,000 milesShe taught me about kindness in action, the power of lifting others up, and the quiet courage of putting people first. Her illness was unfair, but her impact endures. Through?Jodi’s Climb for Hope, we’ve raised over $1 million for breast cancer and MS research, carrying her legacy to literal and figurative peaks. But more than the dollars raised, we’ve carried her?spirit—the belief that even in our hardest moments, we can still create hope for others. Today, I celebrate?Jodi?and all the incredible women who inspire us to be better, to do better, and to support one another. Who are the women who’ve shaped your journey? Let’s take today to recognize them. #InternationalWomensDay #JodisClimbForHope #WomenWhoInspire #Leadership #Resilience Who is a woman who has inspired your career? #IWD25?

???Medical Research Saves Lives. NIH Funding Cuts Put That in Jeopardy. At?Jodi’s Climb for Hope, we’ve spent nearly two decades funding critical research to find treatments and cures for breast cancer and multiple sclerosis. We know firsthand that?medical research isn’t an expense—it’s an investment in people, in progress, and in hope. That’s why the recent, irresponsible cuts to NIH funding by the new Trump administration are so alarming. These cuts threaten lifesaving breakthroughs, economic growth, and the very foundation of America’s leadership in global healthcare. We could point to countless examples of how these drastic cuts will impact research and patient care, but here’s just one: ???NIH funding supports approximately 600 ongoing clinical trials at Johns Hopkins University, including those for cancer, pediatrics, heart disease, and neurodegenerative conditions. These trials aren’t just numbers—they represent real people, real families, and real hope. As Johns Hopkins University President?Ron Daniels?and Hopkins Medicine CEO?Theodore L. DeWeese?wrote: “The NIH funding cut endangers these trials and many more like them into the future. And these trial participants are our patients. The care, treatments, and medical breakthroughs provided to them and their families are not ‘overhead’ – they offer meaningful hope and scientific expertise, often when it’s needed most.” Every day, people from around the world come to the U.S. for the most advanced medical care, thanks to NIH-funded research. These funding cuts don’t just hurt research institutions—they hurt patients, families, and future generations. Jodi’s Climb for Hope stands firmly with the medical community in opposing these devastating cuts. The fight against disease depends on?innovation, not politics. ???If you believe in the power of science to save lives, speak up. Share this. Support research. Advocate for funding. Lives depend on it. #StandForScience #FundMedicalResearch #NIHSavesLives #JodisClimbForHope

Our fan fave climbing expedition was announced with 2025 dates. Consider joining today to help us step up to find promising treatments for MS and breast cancer. Ours is a climb for hope. June 22-25, 2025 Fundraising minumum $2,800 https://lnkd.in/epwAc2Ub Dan Kaplan David Walsh Robert H. Kline

Thanks for sharing this. Your leadership and communication have been crucial to our success -- and for getting our participants to the summit & back safely.

What an unforgettable journey! This past week, 16 brave souls took on the Grand Canyon, hiking 22 miles across, descending 3,500 feet, and then climbing back up—facing temperatures as low as 32° and as high as 104° (yes, 104!). Six of these remarkable individuals even turned around and crossed back the very next day, doubling their challenge. Two of our participants completed this trek while living with MS, showing extraordinary grit, and one participant finished the entire hike non-stop in an amazing 13 hours and 40 minutes! ?? This wasn’t just an adventure for adventure's sake. Together, we raised an incredible $90,000 for progressive MS and breast cancer research at Johns Hopkins. These causes are deeply personal to many and each step we take—whether on the trails or in life—is one more step toward finding a cure. The strength, resilience, and determination shown by this team are truly inspiring and reflect the same spirit needed by those battling MS and breast cancer every day. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and excited about the impact this funding will make. Here’s to pushing limits, raising awareness, and never giving up. ?? Thanks HIMALI & Drink LMNT Margaret Hurley Christian Gocke #GrandCanyonChallenge #MSResearch #BreastCancerResearch #ProgressiveMS #HopkinsResearch #JodisClimbForHope #Resilience #Grit #NeverGiveUp

We were early supporters of Dr Andrew Ewald's work. And, we love seeing that others appreciate the tremendous value and opportunity, moving this even closer to a possible treatment.

The team at Johns Hopkins, which we’ve been supporting for 10 years, is tackling one of the toughest challenges for people with Multiple sclerosis (MS): the fear of their condition getting worse and moving into a stage where there’s no effective treatment. This is the stage where nerve damage, or neurodegeneration, really starts to take hold. The research is showing that obesity and related health issues might actually speed up this nerve damage in people with MS, and just changing diets isn’t cutting it. The Hopkins researchers are looking at a promising class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists, which could slow down this nerve damage. These drugs are already known for helping with weight loss and improving heart health, but there’s more to them—they might actually reduce the brain inflammation that’s driving the nerve damage in MS. One of these drugs, called NLY01, has shown some really encouraging results in early studies. In animal models, it’s been protecting nerve cells and reducing harmful reactions in the nervous system. Now, the team is gearing up for a Phase 2 trial to see if NLY01 can actually slow down nerve damage in people with MS, using advanced imaging to track the results. If this trial is successful, it could be a game changer, not just for slowing the progression of MS, but also for improving the quality of life for those living with the disease. This could pave the way for more in-depth studies and potentially have implications for other neurodegenerative diseases too. #MS #Multiplesclerosis #climbing #research Andrew Buerger Dan Kaplan ?? Tiger Beaudoin David Walsh Henry Heyman Ricky Haro, Ed.D.

Every. Single. Day. For us, breast cancer isn't something we pay attention to only in October. Nor do we wait for International MS Awareness Day to talk about the challenges these diseases inflict on people. People deal with these diseases Every. Single. Day. So, we raise money every day; have expeditions throughout the year. ?? Won't you please donate or, even better, join us? Because ours is a Climb for Hope. Every. Single. Day. www.Climbforhope.org A huge thank you to Omnio Creatives for producing an incredible video that captures the spirit of our mission. Your work is helping us share our message and inspire others to join us in this fight. Drink LMNT HIMALI Dan Kaplan Robert H. Kline Nicholas Sumnicht Henry Heyman Rare Earth Adventures LLC David Walsh ?? Tiger Beaudoin #ClimbForHope #EverySingleDay #BreastCancerAwareness #MSAwareness #JoinUs #Donate #MakeADifference #ThankYou #OmnioCreatives

5 days, 50 miles, 8,000 feet of climbing, $35,000 raised for cancer and MS research. We’re exhausted but fulfilled. We carried the names of your loved ones on prayer flags to the summit of Mt. Olympus and released them to the winds with prayers of love and healing. We are grateful for all your support. Andrew Buerger ?? Tiger Beaudoin Robert H. Kline Jodi's Climb for Hope