Julie Quillin climbs Mt. Shasta next week, she will be honoring the memory of her friend, Tammy Herrera. Herrera died of breast cancer in 2006. Quillin, who describes herself as a bit of an introvert, has sought help from others to prepare for the climb – for physical fitness, for monetary contributions and for emotional support. She is 37 and a cartographer who runs her own business. But that work has been put on hold while she devotes her time and energy preparing for the June 24 climb.

Climb Against the Odds 2009 is the 10th major expedition sponsored by the Breast Cancer Fund.

Julie and 27 women and men from across the country are attempting a summit of Mt. Shasta. The team consists of breast cancer survivors and individuals touched by the disease, who are joined together in a six-month journey of training and fund-raising in support of breast cancer prevention.”

The Breast Cancer Fund was founded in 1992 to focus on breast cancer prevention. Its goal is to educate the public about environmental and other preventable causes of the disease and to mobilize the public to take action.

Quillin is still accepting donations.

They can be made at www.breastcancerfund.org/climb09/julieq