The first week of July 2004, Sara Thorpe, Managing Partner of the San Francisco Office, joined 23 breast cancer survivors and supporters celebrating the Breast Cancer Fund's fifth major mountain climb expedition, 'Climb Against the Odds ~ Mt. Shasta' (CAO) . Sara and half of the team staved off altitude sickness and with crampons and ice axes reached the peak of 14,162 feet shortly after 9:30 am after starting the hike at 1:30 am. Fortunately their descent was much quicker as they were able to glissade down most of the mountain. As a group, the CAO team raised over $350,000 for the Breast Cancer Fund's programs to identify the causes and eliminate the environmental causes of the disease. Sara well exceeded her own personal goal of $8,000 and pledges are still coming in. "Thanks to everyone for their support and encouragement. This was truly the hardest thing I have ever done (besides manage lawyers). The Breast Cancer Fund is a great organization with a worthy mission of preventing a disease that now impacts 1 out of every 7 women (and a smaller percentage of men), and of course their families and friends. I was inspired by the entire experience and the great motivated people I met preparing for and completing this climb."