| 17 Sep 07 |
LOVE HOPE STRENGTH FOUNDATION HOLDS FIRST EVER ROCK CONCERT ON MOUNT EVEREST!
The Alarm’s Mike Peters, Stray Cats’ Slim Jim Phantom, Squeeze’s Glenn Tilbrook, Nick Harper, The Fixx’s Cy Curnin and Jamie West-Oram Make Climb for Cancer Research.
On October 13th, forty legendary musicians, mountaineers, artists, cancer survivors and supporters will embark on the most momentous climb of their lives - “Everest Rocks” - a fourteen-day trek up Mount Everest, culminating with the first-ever rock concert at Base Camp. The climb was designed to bring awareness to and raise money for the Love Hope Strength Foundation (LHSF), founded by two-time cancer survivor and rock icon, Mike Peters of the UK band "The Alarm" and fellow cancer survivor James Chippendale, president of CSI Entertainment, one of the country's largest entertainment and sports insurance brokers.
Joining Peters and Chippendale on the 18,000 foot climb will be musical legends Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats, Squeeze’s Glenn Tilbrook, Nick Harper, The Fixx’s Cy Curnin and The Fixx’s Jamie West-Oram. Following long, strenuous hikes each day, the musicians will create acoustic recordings that will be fed directly to iTunes from the mountain. Once reaching Base Camp on October 23, they will perform together – a Mount Everest first - and will then hike four days down the mountain to play a finale concert in Kathmandu on October 29. Each day, people all over the world will be able to watch and listen to video, live recordings, photos and read a daily blog, and even send text messages to the rockers via www.lovehopestrength.org.
All funds raised through iTunes will go to the Love Hope Strength Foundation, and more specifically, the funds raised from this climb will benefit the Nepal Cancer Relief Society – allowing the local Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital to build the infrastructure of its clinic. In a country where the average annual income is $300 a year, the Love Hope Strength Foundation’s donation and support will go a long way to save lives.
LHSF co-founder Mike Peters was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 1995. The cancer returned in 2006 when he was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocyte Leukemia. He continued to tour with The Alarm while undergoing treatment, and was most recently on tour with them this summer. “I have been keeping busy this summer touring with the band and promoting the Foundation but I have stayed focused on gearing up for Everest. It’s not going to be easy getting to base camp,” says Peters. “But, when I was going through chemo, I promised myself that when I got healthy I would climb a mountain every year to celebrate life. This year I will make the trek to Everest with my friends, family and fellow survivors. Next to beating cancer, this will be one of the most challenging physical accomplishments of my life.”
The entire “Everest Rocks” journey will be captured for a documentary being directed by MTV’s Alex Coletti, producer and creator of MTV’s “Unplugged,” and produced by Brian Isley. The taping will include the training, kickoff events, trek, base camp acoustic set and rock show in Kathmandu.
Peters and Chippendale founded LHSF in January 2007. "Mike and I feel passionately about getting as many of our friends in our industry involved in our efforts as possible," said Chippendale. “Our close connections with musicians worldwide allow us to create innovative, music-related outreach and awareness programs for people around the world who don’t have the same resources we did during our battle with cancer.” Chippendale was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of leukemia in 2000 and was given 50-percent chance of survival.
Everest Rocks Schedule
October 1: Arrive in Kathmandu
October 13: Begin 10-day Climb to Base Camp on Mount Everest
October 13 – 22: Daily videos, live recordings, photos and a daily blog posted on www.lovehopestrength.com
Daily podcasts and acoustic recordings available to download on iTunes
October 23: Everest Rocks Concert at Base Camp
October 24 – 28: Downhill climb
October 29: Finale Concert in Kathmandu
Show Your Support
In addition to downloading the daily podcasts and recordings from iTunes, people are encouraged to show their support by wearing the Love Hope Strength Foundation’s signature Camo Gear. After Mike Peters was diagnosed with cancer for the first time, and while on tour with his band, a faith healer revealed to him that green was the healing color of life. Thereafter, throughout six months of intense chemotherapy, he continued to play and perform in his trademark green combat fatigues, to symbolize his “battle” against cancer. This has now become the LHSF’s symbol of health and strength. LHSF Camo Gear is available at www.lovehopestrength.com.
Sponsor the Phantom
You can show your support for Jim by making a donation to the LHS Foundation via Jim's personal page on the Foundation's web site at this link: www.lovehopestrength.com/everest/archives/category/slim-jim-phantom/ |
