Two years ago, almost to the day, I began donating my time as a volunteer photographer for a nonprofit called On Belay. Nothing satisfies my artist soul more than seeing my work enhance the mission of an organization that supports youth with parents or relatives who’ve been affected by cancer. Having been diagnosed with the disease in my 20s, I can relate to some of the challenges On Belay kids face and immediately knew volunteering was what I was called to do. Little did I know how much these kids would unknowingly support me as much as I would support them.

On a cold, raw day in February 2016, a couple of weeks before my first outing with On Belay, a trip to a ropes and challenge course in Massachusetts, I was admitted to a Boston hospital where I was delivered news no one wants to hear once, mind twice: After seven years in remission, I had cancer again.

Behind the camera during my first On Belay event, I witnessed kids courageously working together to accomplish challenge after challenge.

I knew chemotherapy and surgery was highly likely, but I didn’t know when and how long I’d be sidelined. While I waited for my doctors to come up with a treatment plan, I continued to work at my full-time job as a managing editor for the Appalachian Mountain Club. Going to work was a healthy distraction, but nearly every hour I’d lose sight of my assignments and slip into a cloud of worry. The day before my first On Belay event, I struggled to convince myself that attending was the right thing to do. I was paranoid I wouldn’t be able to compose myself around kids who are struggling with their own challenges. In the end, I talked myself into going, if nothing else, to use my creativity as a minor diversion from the stress mounting over me. I had to be strong for them.

No sooner had I arrived the next day did I feel a sense of relief. The temperature was in the upper 40s and the forecast was for drizzle all day, yet most of the kids that morning had bright smiles pasted on their faces adding to the warm, inviting atmosphere. Before long, I had forgotten about what had caused my fear in the first place. I couldn’t help but smile behind the camera as I took photos. Undoubtedly, every one of these kids was living with some emotional trauma, but for today at least, they could leave it behind for a couple of hours of laughing, playing, and, well, being a kid.

"Undoubtedly, every one of these kids was living with some emotional trauma, but for today at least, they could leave it behind."

Driving home that afternoon, I realized how much the kids had taught me about remaining resilient in the face of uncertainty and smiling through the pain. Since then, Jen and I have photographed and filmed many more kids and their glowing smiles. We’ll never know the extent of what they’re going through, we never ask, but we are constantly amazed at how these programs have a profound impact on their lives.

A good friend of ours and supporter of On Belay is Andy Crowley, an ice and rock climber, yurt builder, and On Belay board member. Andy is no stranger to being stuck between a rock and a hard place (mind the pun). When he’s not working at his full-time job in Concord, N.H., Andy spends his time climbing some of the most notable cliffs in the country. His passion for climbing and supporting On Belay prompted him to create a fundraiser to benefit the organization. Rather than walking, running, or biking a certain distance to raise money, Andy will ice climb. On February 3, Super Bowl Sunday, Andy will be far from a couch and a TV, climbing a frozen waterfall not once, but 100 times in 12 hours. Jen and I are joining him to photograph and film throughout the day and to post updates on Instagram. For us, using our talents for a cause like this is a way to thank and give back to all the people who helped us when we needed it the most.

Inspired by Andy's ambitious goal, I caught up with him earlier this month to find out more about the fundraiser, his training, and the big day.

Andy Crowley of Franklin, N.H., will attempt to climb a frozen waterfall 100 times in 12 hours to raise money for On Belay.

What do you think will be the most challenging part of the day?
AC: I think a big challenge will be overcoming the worries and uncertainties. Not knowing if I'll be strong enough to do it all. Not knowing if things will turn out OK.

How’s training going?
AC: I've been climbing in the gym and at home on my 12-foot training wall, cross-country skiing to build stamina in the cold, and, of course, ice climbing every weekend in new places. I guess I've been training a lot, much more than I usually do each year. This is a goal I'm very serious about, and my health and strength is an important asset in overcoming this challenge.

Do you think you'll want to ice climb after this event?
AC: Definitely. I recently hatched a plan with friends to alpine climb a difficult route up Katahdin in March.

How do you plan on preventing mental fatigue?
AC: Fatigue is real. I'll start and finish this climb in the dark, doing nothing but going up and down for 12 straight hours. My supportive belayers will be taking shifts throughout the day to handle the ropes, provide me with food and drinks, and be there to encourage me along the way. Knowing that my effort and perseverance will help kids and families is all the motivation I’ll need. I'll be thinking of the kids I work with as an On Belay volunteer, the parents I have met at the programs, and all the folks along the way who are pledging to support not just the climb-a-thon, but a community built on adventure that supports and fosters empowerment and personal growth for kids who need it most.

What are you looking forward to doing after you finish?
AC: I'm looking forward to a hot bath! After the climb is over the work is not done. I have tons of thank-you notes to write, hugs to give, and I want to produce another video in summation to showcase all that we've been able to accomplish. I'm also looking forward to On Belay’s 2019 programming. We’re changing things up this year by offering mini-adventures that will be custom-tailored for kids to be able to have a new experience in a new place in a new format. It's being put together by our program director, Aaron Laflamme. Super excited!

What does it feel like to participate in a fundraiser where you are the person everyone is watching?
AC: I’m not comfortable being in the spotlight, asking for support, and flat-out asking people for money. The only way I'm able to feel good about this whole thing is knowing that not only are we raising funds for a long-standing and legitimate nonprofit with a great mission, but also through all the outreach and publicity, we may be able to reach and support more families who otherwise might not know about On Belay.

You've raised about half of your fundraising goal. How does it feel to see all these supporters step up for this cause?
AC: I'm blown away by all the generous support that we've received so far. I think people should know that their pledges and donations go a long way. On Belay runs on quite a small budget, which ironically makes it harder to obtain funding through grants and other opportunities. Let’s keep this snowball rolling!

Until next time, peace and love,

Branching Out:

Help Andy reach his $2,500 fundraising goal for On Belay programming by donating today. Your contribution will go directly to providing kids with free outdoor recreation activities, including rock climbing, kayaking, and backpacking.
Follow Andy on Instagram as he trains for the big day on February 3.
Watch a Rooted In Light-produced video to learn more about the climb-a-thon and On Belay programming.

Coming Up:

April 2019: Setting and Sticking to Our Goals

Growing our Roots:

We're always looking for ways to connect through art, photography, and storytelling. Reach out to us with your ideas! We'd love to hear from you.
Follow us on Instagram @rootedinlightmedia.