Bob Cassidy and Robert Dickie have contributed countless resources to a number of charities and are very passionate towards the efforts they put forward. Their compassion has led them to the point of establishing a goal of accomplishing the 7 summits for the sake of providing a way to raise awareness and funds for the organizations they represent. They have been profoundly impacted by watching families, friends, and colleagues as they struggle to overcome the challenges associated with Autism, Alzheimer’s, and cancer. The persistence, patience, and bravery of those afflicted has served as an inspiration to them. Bob and Robert are not individuals that sit by and watch, or wait for someone else to do something. In mid-2009, they elected to help those in need by creating the 7 Summit Challenge.

Bob and Robert have their sights set on summiting the seven hightest peaks across the seven continents . They recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in January 2010. And in addition to continuous training and climbing for the next 5 years, Bob and Robert will travel the country broadcasting a message of hope and inspiration.

Bob and Robert’s climbing experience prior to the Mount Kilimanjaro climb includes several successful summits of Pikes Peak, located in the front range of the Rocky Mountains, 10 miles west of Colorado Springs, CO, with a summit elevation of 14,110 ft. And in August of 2009 they summitted Mount Rainier, located 50 miles southeast of Seattle, WA, with a summit elevation of 14,410 ft. Mount Rainier is heavily glaciated and towers over the Cascades as the most prominent mountain in the lower 48 states. In addition to a successful summit bid, they spent several extra days on the mountain, which allowed them to focus their training on ice arrest, route finding, crevasse rescue and glacier travel.

 

After meeting Phil Ershler, one of America’s most accomplished mountaineers, Bob and Robert decided to hire his mountaineering guide company, International Mountain Guides, to coordinate logistics and provide guide services as needed for the 7 summit climbs, primarily due to IMG’s unsurpassed experience and safety record within the guide industry.

 

After securing a guide service, Bob and Robert began their training. And after a few short months they had the Autism Society, Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Alzheimer’s Association joining their campaign and the 7 Summit Challenge was no longer a dream. Fundraising began in late January 2010.

 

Bob and Robert hope their passion is contagious and that others are inspired to make a difference in society. Robert Dickie says, “Select your own ‘summit’ and achieve what you may have previously thought impossible. Autism, cancer and alzheimer’s are not going away on their own. Help us show these amazing organizations and individuals that we care and that they are not facing these challenges alone.” Get involved now!