MERIDIAN REGIONAL AIRPORT AND ASCENT FOR A CURE REACH FOR THE SKY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 14, 2020
As part of an ongoing challenge to raise awareness and funds for programs for Meridian area Parkinson’s Disease patients, Meridian Regional Airport is sponsoring a mountain climb by a Meridian man who has never before climbed a mountain!
Davin Mancini was the high bidder in an auction for a guided climb of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan, located in northern Washington state. As part of the broader, and even more daunting, climbing effort called Ascent for a Cure, the director of the Anderson Health and Fitness Center, Adam Hodges, will attempt to scale Mt. Everest next spring. All of these muscle-crunching feats are in support of Anderson’s Rock Steady Boxing (RSB) program that is already achieving amazing results for its Parkinson’s participants.
Davin, a pilot with the PHI Air Medical, is also a CrossFit coach at Anderson. That’s where he met Adam and, with his encouragement, decided to bid on the Washington climbs.
Being a partner in this program was a natural fit for the airport, says Tom Williams, Meridian Regional Airport president.
“We love the idea that we are helping Anderson Health, Davin Mancini and, most importantly, our area residents battling Parkinson’s Disease reach for the sky through this truly innovative and motivating program,” he said.
Davin describes his motivation by saying, “I’m 41 and Adam is 55 so, I figured if he can do it, I can do it.” While Adam is a seasoned climber, Davin is not, so he’s been loading 65 pounds in a backpack and walking the hilly trails at Bonita Lakes to increase his stamina, already at high levels from his CrossFit training.
Nevertheless, he says, when he first took a look at the routes up Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan, “I said I don’t know if we’re going to make it.” But with his guide, and Adam there for support, Davin is willing to brave the altitudes, climate fluctuations and grueling ascents. Davin and Adam will leave from Meridian Regional Airport on July 23 and return on July 30.
Mts. Baker and Shuksan are both in the Cascades. Mt. Baker stands 10,781 feet tall, while Shuksan is 9,131 feet high.
TO ACCESS MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT ASCENT FOR A CURE AND THE ROCK STEADY BOXING PROGRAM, GO TO www.ascentforacure.com.