Climbing for Dave: A Journey of Strength, Hope, and Community
By
September 27, 2026
One of our members, Sandy Cooke, is literally going above and beyond this October as she takes on an incredible challenge: trekking to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar in Nepal in memory of her late husband, Dave.
Dave was an avid climber who passed away from pancreatic cancer nearly five years ago. This October, Sandy will honor his memory by taking on a journey that will bring her to approximately 18,200 feet at the summit of Kala Patthar, near Everest Base Camp.
But this climb is about much more than reaching the top of a mountain.
Sandy is using the journey to raise money for the Mercy Health Foundation, with a goal of raising $18,200, one dollar for every foot of the approximately 18,200-foot summit of Kala Patthar.
The funds will support Mercy Health Foundation’s Closer to Home. Closer to Hope. campaign, which has a long-term vision for transforming cancer care in Southwest Colorado. The campaign aims to expand access to comprehensive and compassionate cancer care close to home while investing in the people, facilities, technology and capabilities needed to serve our community.
For Sandy, this cause is deeply personal.
She and Dave experienced firsthand the care provided by the Oncology and Hospice teams at Mercy Hospital in Durango during their cancer journeys. Sandy also celebrated her own five-year milestone as a breast cancer survivor this past March.
Her climb is a way to honor Dave, celebrate her own journey, and help create hope for other families facing cancer.
We are incredibly proud to have Sandy as part of the Catacombs community and excited to follow her journey to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar this October.
Her goal is ambitious: $18,200 for Mercy Health Foundation.
Every dollar raised will help support the future of cancer care here in Southwest Colorado — helping bring exceptional care closer to home for the people and families who need it.
We encourage our Catacombs community, the Durango community, and anyone who has been touched by cancer to follow Sandy's journey and consider supporting her fundraiser by making a donation.
18,200 feet. One incredible journey. A lifetime of memories. And hope for the people who will face cancer in the future.
We are proud to be in Sandy's corner as she takes this next step.
Go climb that mountain, Sandy. Your Catacombs family is behind you!
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