If you’re a climbing dweeb like me and read the rags, then you’ve seen the name Bean Bowers. Old-school (as in Bonatti old-school) ascents throughout the world earned Bowers a rep as a hard man, with much-publicized epics like a 100-foot fall on the summit mushroom of Torre Egger.
This time around, though, our man’s runout on the sharp end of cancer–that’s right, the seemingly indestructible Bowers discovered a mysterious form of cancer this winter and is currently battling his ass through chemo. He’s on to round three and the results have been encouraging thus far.
Friends and family regularly post updates through the BeanFever website HERE. Check out the site for current updates on Bean’s battle and more information on an upcoming fundraiser THAT YOU SHOULD ATTEND! This Thursday, April 28, at Avery Brewing (5757 Arapahoe Avenue, Suite 1A), 6:30 p.m. All proceeds ($15 at the door and all auction monies) go to helping Bean and his wife Helen pay their astronomical medical bills. For the record, none of the money goes to Greg Mortensen. Just saying.
Seriously, it’s for a good cause. He’s got health insurance, but like you and me, it’s a high-deductible plan and the corporate dickshiners always find a way to gouge you for a little extra.
Just think, your buds would throw you a monster fundraiser if you had the ugly surprise of cancer in your early years. Come help out Bean and Helen, drink some good beer, and hang for the guaranteed-to-be-epic auction. Skeptical? How about auctions for heli skiing in Valdez, guided climbing on Mont Blanc, a bouldering sess with Lynn Hill, kayaking with Timmy O’Neill, and a raffle for an “Ice to Oceans” trip provided by Patagonia Adventure Expeditions.
Still not hip to the idea? All right, free food. And I think beer, but don’t quote me on that. Avery’s a good dude, though, so I’d expect he’s throwing a few kegs your way.
Gear? Yeah–LaSportiva, Native Eyewear, Dynafit, Sterling, OR, Rab and more…all the stuff you blow your hard-earned greenbacks on anyway, so come hoping to win something in the raffle, but do the right thing and bid on something badass!
