Announcing the official 2024 team selection for ROMP’s 10th annual Climbing for ROMP campaign! Climbing for ROMP is a global initiative that was established to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 2015. The goal of Climbing for ROMP is to raise funds for ROMP’s mission and raise awareness about the importance of equitable access to prosthetic care and the international significance of legislation protecting rights for those with disabilities.
Each year, a select group of adaptive athletes, industry leaders, and disability rights advocates come together for the signature ‘climb’: an attempt on one of Ecuador’s highest peaks to symbolize what is possible when you have access to proper prosthetic care. To commemorate the significance of the 10th annual, the 2024 ROMP Climb Team has an ambitious goal: to attempt the highest THREE mountains in Ecuador (Chimborazo 20,549 ft, Cotopaxi 19,347 ft, and Cayambe 18,996 ft) and have thousands of people worldwide join in solidarity.
You can learn more about the team members and support them here: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/climbingforromp2024/
Adaptive athletes on the 2024 team include Cam Ayala, Nico Calabria, Steve Crawford, Kirstie Ennis, Meg Fisher, Zach Friedley, Joseph Fry, Taylor Haines, Rebecca Johnston, Tanner Jones, Cristian Lira, Joshua Nowlan, Robert Rodriguez, Sam Schaefer, Heather Shorey, Kyle Stepp, and ROMP founder David Krupa. Other athletes include David Bernhardt, Racheal Burks, Jacob Fox, Alli Gordon, David Kilgore, Leslie Martinez, Micah Ness, Santino Martirano, Sean O’Neill, Paige Penrose, Lea Richer, Mercedes Siegle-Gaither and ROMP Director of Development, Lauren LP Panasewicz.
The team will be training and fundraising together for the next 6 months to prepare for an ascent on Cayambe, Cotopaxi, or Chimborazo with the goal to raise $500,000 to directly fund prosthetic care for 250 ROMP patients and set the foundation for ROMP’s expansion to a third country in Latin America by 2026. While the team is in Ecuador climbing, everyone around the world is invited to join in solidarity and hit the trails for ROMP patients.
"I would not be where I am today without my prosthetic devices; the tools I need for independence and adventure. More importantly, I wouldn't be who I am without my community of support. To be able to pay it forward now is incredibly special. By making mobility, movement, and the outdoors a priority for all, we open up a world of healing and growth. Coming together and Climbing for ROMP creates opportunities, bonds, and a support network felt around the world”. Kirstie Ennis, USMC Veteran & Mountaineer and 3 time Climbing for ROMP team member/captain.
Over the past nine years of Climbing for ROMP, ROMP staff, volunteers, partners, and community members have climbed in more than 300 locations worldwide to benefit ROMP patients. Since 2015, the initiative has raised over $784,000 to continue ROMP’s mission of providing high quality prosthetic care to those who cannot access it.
“The human right of movement and mobility is fundamental to a person's ability to fully participate in society, and yet, many individuals face barriers to accessing the prosthetic devices they need. ROMP's high impact model that's funded by philanthropy not only addresses this gap but also empowers individuals from the most underserved communities to regain their independence and pursue their passions. Climbing for ROMP serves as a powerful demonstration of the transformative impact that access to prosthetics can have on the lives of individuals living with limb loss.” - Kyle Stepp, USA Elite Paratriathlete, Disability Rights Advocate, and Climbing for ROMP Team Co-Captain
Additionally, two ROMP patients will join the climb showing first hand that providing access to high-quality care can help people reach their own summits. The team represents what is possible when we have access to proper technology and assistive devices.
“Climbing for ROMP has always been about the resiliency of the human spirit. Our hashtag #WhatsYourMountain is a metaphor for the emotional, physical, or mental challenges that are unique to each of us but not unique to the human experience,” says team lead, Lauren ‘LP’ Panasewicz.
Climbing for ROMP 2024 is currently supported by ON, Cumbre Tours, and The Kirstie Ennis Foundation. ROMP is seeking additional partners and funders. There are partnership opportunities available still for brands and funders that align with our values and vision. Please reach out to lp@rompglobal.org if you’re interested in learning more.
