U-Haul Participates in Annual Climb to Conquer Cancer

Mar 16, 2016

On a warm winter Saturday morning, 116 U-Haul Team Members and a number of their family members hiked Phoenix’s South Mountain for the 33rd annual Climb to Conquer Cancer event.

Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the Climb to Conquer Cancer brings awareness to cancer and allows people to aid in the search for a cure. Participants made their Feb. 27 journey up the mountain to support and remember loved ones who have been affected by the disease.

climb to conquer cancer (Rosario Valle 2) 450

Rosario Valle participating in the Climb with friends and family.

“I was inspired to participate in this event when one of my dearest friends was fighting against cancer,” said Rosario Valle, a systems administrator for U-Haul Dealer Services. “She was one of the strongest ladies I knew. She was full of life and had the best attitude, even when struggling and trying to fight against this horrible disease. At the end of her battle, she asked (for me) to always remember her – and this is a way to keep her memory alive.”

Valle has been participating in the Climb to Conquer Cancer for the past seven years, and every year she brings along a new family member or friend to join the group. This year she brought Isabel, her 9-year-old daughter.

Since 2007, Team U-Haul has contributed the largest donations in Arizona to the Phoenix event. Team U-Haul has raised nearly $600,000 for the American Cancer Society through the Climb to Conquer Cancer event over 24 years. This year, Team U-Haul has raised more than $10,000. That amount will be matched by the Company to double the donations.

“It was a great day,” Diane Monzu, supervisor of the Credit Administration department since 2011 said. “The weather was perfect and I thought there was a huge turnout. The walk was challenging but not too bad. The stations they had every mile with water and snacks were always a welcome sight and it was nice to have the signs marking what mile you were on.”

The top fundraisers among U-Haul Team Members were Laura Miller ($4,290) and Phyllis Gurstell ($2,954). Donations to assist Team U-Haul are still being accepted. To donate, visit the U-Haul page on the American Cancer Society site at: http://main.acsevents.org.

Participants brought their energy and generosity to with them to make a real difference in fight against cancer. They shared a common goal no matter what reasons lead them to the event.

“To be part of the Climb to Conquer Cancer event means that I will always remember the struggle and fight my family and friends fought and lost to this horrible disease,” Valle said. “It means that I will always remember them by walking in their memory.”

climb for cancer (Diane Monzu 1) 400x 500

Diane Monzu reaching the finish line.

Monzu added: “This was my first time and I plan on doing it again. It gave me great personal satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment. I have several family members affected by cancer so it meant a lot to me.”

To check out the story from last year’s Climb to Conquer Cancer event, click here.

Thank you to the U-Haul participants in the 2016 Climb to Conquer Cancer: Erick Acevedo, Amanda Adams, Ken Adams, Suzi Adams, Margarita Angheven, Sam Austin, Michael Baca, Matthew Braccia, Amber Bremer, Scott Bremer, Karen Butler, Mackenzie Butler, Anthony Cantu, Kelly Casey, Dean Cerimeli, Codie Church, Kristine Collins, Saundra Cotton, Jean Covington, Manuel Cuellar, Prescilla Cuellar, Marlon Daniels, Angie DeWinter, Luke Delgado, Elisha Dudley, Norman Dudley, Steve Dufresne, Brittany Dukarm, France Duran, Sandra Duran, Mandy Flanagan, Robert Flanagan, Margie Fonseca Vega, Eva Franco, Marie Friend, Alicia Galaviz, Joey Gieser, James Gonzales, Monica Granillo, Michael Gurstell, Phyllis Gurstell, Mirna Gutierrez, Paula Haber, Tina Holz, Alicia Jacobo, Jerrica Johnston, Karema King, Kirk Lanctot, Andrew Lindholn, Maghen Lindholm, Diana Lizardo, Maritza Lomba, Naomy Lopez, Yvette Lovato, Allison Lunsford, Anthony Manquero, Richelle Manquero, Jordan Mcgarry Farr, Cathy Mcgarry King, Nora McKinnon, Mikita McWhite, Zac Michaels, Kamiah Miller, Laura Miller, Ronald Miller, Diane Monzu, Bill Neff, Jeannie Neff, Courtney Neyra, Diego Neyra, Josh Nies, Karena Nies, Adrew Olson, Jeanne Olson, Silvia Olson, Angel Orozco, Iveth Otero, Blanca Quintero, John Quintero, Jenna Repkin, Linda Reyher, Tony Reyher, Jeanne Rohrer, Laura Rollins, Latasha Ross, Chasan Royer, Ben Sailer, Kathy Schultz, Morgan Smith, Lisa Soldano, Daniel Stanley, Paul Stanley, Stefanie Stanley, April Stapley, Hugh Stapley, Taylor Stoltzner, Stacey Stubbs, Fred Tuffly, Isabel Valle, Leonel Valle, Rosario Valle, Nita Vazquez, Patricia Velez, Carlos Vizcarra, Melissa Vizcarra, Michelle Vukov-Mikel, Alexis Wagner, Preston Wagner, Bobbie Webb, Adam Weeby, Teagan White, Tracey Williams, Nicolle Zavala and Samantha Zavala.

Why do you think it is important to give back to your community?  How do you give back?

More articles like this one…

What’s New

Humble Design San Diego Helping 500th Family Escape Homelessness

Humble Design San Diego Helping 500th Family Escape Homelessness

Turning empty residences into furnished homes in San Diego County since 2018, Humble Design has a 98% effectiveness rate for their clients breaking the cycle of homelessness Humble Design, a U-Haul charity partner since 2016, is about to celebrate a milestone that is...

An Intern’s Account: Participating in the 21st Annual Pat’s Run

An Intern’s Account: Participating in the 21st Annual Pat’s Run

U-Haul® Public Relations intern Kailash Garcia-Delaney experienced his first Pat’s Run on April 12 in Tempe, Ariz., one of many Team Members to do so as part of the Company’s ongoing sponsorship of the Pat Tillman Foundation and the Tillman Scholars program. Here is...

U-Haul Offers Flood Relief across Greater Cincinnati and Louisville

U-Haul Offers Flood Relief across Greater Cincinnati and Louisville

U-Haul® is offering 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box® container usage at 21 facilities in southwest Ohio, northern Kentucky and southern Indiana to residents impacted by severe flooding in the region. The Ohio River crested above 60 feet due to recent storms,...

U-Haul Volunteers Pack 2,700 Emergency Food Boxes at St. Mary’s

U-Haul Volunteers Pack 2,700 Emergency Food Boxes at St. Mary’s

U-Haul Team Members came together and packed over 2,700 emergency food boxes on March 1 at the St. Mary’s Food Bank warehouse in Phoenix. The food boxes help provide nutritious options for families, children and seniors facing food insecurity across the Valley and...

U-Haul of Rock Springs Store Receives Beautification Award

U-Haul of Rock Springs Store Receives Beautification Award

U-Haul Moving & Storage of Rock Springs (Wyo.) received the Pride of Place Award on Feb. 27 for its commitment to the beautification of the city and its contributions to the overall appearance of Rock Springs. Paige Moore and Paul Johnson accepted the award at the...

Storm Recovery: U-Haul Offers 30 Days Free Storage at 366 Centers

Storm Recovery: U-Haul Offers 30 Days Free Storage at 366 Centers

U-Haul® has made 366 Company stores available to help storm victims with 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box® container usage after a powerful weather system produced deadly tornadoes, fires, flooding and wind damage across a line of states Friday through...

Disaster Relief: U-Haul Offers 30 Days Free Storage in Oklahoma

Disaster Relief: U-Haul Offers 30 Days Free Storage in Oklahoma

Three U-Haul® Companies in Oklahoma have made 16 centers available to provide 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box® container usage to residents affected by the wildfires and windstorms that wreaked havoc Friday across the Sooner State. Extreme winds sparked an...