CdM Couple To Lead Rainier Climb to Fight Muscular Dystrophy
As a couple, Debra and Paul Miller couldn’t approach a mountain-climbing mission more differently. Paul can’t wait — he loves a physical challenge. And Debra? “I’m the worst,” she admits. “I said, ‘Oh! Really? It’s that big…’ ”
Mount Rainier in Washington state is big — 14,411 feet, to be exact. But the Millers and 10 of their friends (including parents of other boys, scientists, musicians and a film maker) are highly motivated because the climb is a fundraiser for CureDuchenne, a Corona del Mar-based non-profit organization with the sole mission of eradicating the most common form of muscular dystrophy.
Photo courtesy of the Miller family.
The Mount Rainier climbers each pledged to raise $1 per foot, or $14,411 per climber. “Right now I’m over $11,000,” Debra said. “But the other team members might need help.” (Visit the event page to read about the team members and make a contribution.)
The Millers have been training for the climb, which will take place Aug. 29 through Sept. 1. “We trained on Mount Baldy,” Debra said. The first 2,000 feet, I was doing OK. The next 1,000 was tough. And Paul was at the top, waving.”
On Mount Rainier, Debra said, the last leg will begin at midnight and involve using headlamps for the last 4,000 feet. “You get to 14,411 feet, you take your photos, say ‘Ah’ and head straight down,” she said.
So what does her son think of Debra’s mountain climbing and other charitable work?
“He’s been telling me, ‘Mom, you can do it,’” Debra said “He basically is feeding me back all that I’ve told him these past years. He recently said ‘I know you’ve made a lot of sacrifices for me.’ And at night I’m tired, but in the morning, I’m ready to go at it.”
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[...] Corona Del Mar Couple To Lead Rainier Climb to Fight Muscular Dystrophy [...]
[...] The Millers also are planning a fundraising climb of Mount Rainier next month; read our coverage of their climbing preparation here. [...]
[...] The Millers’ son, now 12, was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in 2002, and they founded CureDuchenne the next year. The organization has raised $5 million. The Millers also are planning a fund-raising climb of Mount Rainier later this month; read our story about the climb here. [...]
[...] For more information and to learn how to make a donation, read our earlier coverage here. [...]
[...] Late this summer, several CureDuchenne supporters climbed Mount Rainier to raise money. Read our stories about that climb, and the organization, here and here. [...]