Martina Navratilova begins Mt. Kilimanjaro climb

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova embarked Monday on her attempt to summit Tanzania's Mt. Kilimanjaro in an effort to raise funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, a charity helping disadvantaged youth worldwide through sports-based projects.

The nine-time Wimbledon champion is joined on the challenge by a group of 27 fundraisers, including German Paralympic cyclist Michael Teuber and British Olympic badminton star Gail Emms.

Ascending via the Rongai Route, it is expected to take six to seven days to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro, which at 19,340 feet is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world.

"I've been planning to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro since early this year, even before my breast cancer diagnosis, so it feels really great to finally be underway," Navratilova said as the team was about to depart. "I'm feeling well prepared for the challenge, and although I'm sure we'll all be in for a tough few days of climbing, I am determined to reach the summit."

Navratilova, 54, finished radiotherapy treatment in June after having been diagnosed with breast cancer in April.

Fans can follow the team's progress via The Laureus Blog, where Navratilova will be issuing daily blog posts, as well as by subscribing to receive e-mail updates.

Added Navratilova: "I am really pleased to be joined on the climb by a team of international fundraisers, and I hope everyone will support us by donating at www.laureus.com."

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Martina Navratilova embarks on her attempt to summit Tanzania's Mt. Kilimanjaro. Navratilova and her team are climbing Kilimanjaro to raise money for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Chris Jackson / Getty Images for Laureus

Skiing, snowboarding Santas hit the slopes in Maine

Hundreds of skiing and snowboarding Santas were dashing through the snow Sunday at Maine's Sunday River Ski Resort, turning the slopes and lifts into a sea of red for a good cause.

The Newry, Maine, resort reports that 250 people signed up for the 11th annual Santa Sunday event, with registration filling up in 12 minutes.

Participants who donned head-to-toe Santa attire and donated $10 received a free lift ticket for Sunday as well as an additional lift ticket valid before Dec. 17.

In all, $2,270 was raised to benefit the Bethel Rotary Club’s annual Christmas toy drive.

-- Kelly Burgess
Twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Skiers and snowboarders dressed as Santa head down the slope Sunday as part of the 11th annual Santa Sunday at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine. Credit: Joel Page / Associated Press

Hundreds of skiing Santas were dashing through the snow at a Maine ski resort over the weekend.

Sunday River says 250 skiers and snowboarders signed up for its 11th annual Santa Sunday event, with registration filling up in 12 minutes.

For the event, skiers got a free lift ticket if they came dressed as Santa and donated $10 or more to the Bethel Rotary Club's annual drive to provide gifts for the area's children in need. They also got an additional lift ticket valid through Dec. 18.

'The Bachelorette's' Ryan Sutter raises more than $100,000 completing his First Descents Challenge

An update on Ryan Sutter, the Vail, Colo., Fire Department lieutenant likely better known to the public as the finalist on Season 1 of "The Bachelorette," who participated in the 10.10.10 First Descents Challenge.

Sutter was pushing to reach his goal of completing 10 athletic challenges and along the way inspire 10,000 people to contribute $10 each, hoping to collect a total of $100,000 for First Descents, a nonprofit organization that provides free outdoor-adventure therapy for young adults with cancer.

Sutter finished the last of 10 events, completing the Nov. 7 New York City Marathon in 3:20:39. He also reached and surpassed his fund raising goal, ending up with $100,424 donated, which will provide 100 young adults the opportunity to attend the weeklong First Descents camp.

"Going into this journey I expected a test of my physical endurance. What I did not anticipate was the profound affect the 10.10.10 Challenge would have on me as a father, husband and man," said Sutter. "Through the eyes of the young adults in the First Descents programs I was given a window into life’s tremendous potential and the importance of each day. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to give back to an organization that has given me so much."

'The Bachelorette's' Ryan Sutter has one more event to go in his 10.10.10 First Descents Challenge

Ryan Sutter spends his workday helping people as a lieutenant with the Vail, Colo. Fire Department. Sutter, however, is likely better known to the public as the finalist on Season 1 of "The Bachelorette," in which he won the heart of Trista Rehn in 2003 (they married later that year and now have two children).

Now, the 36-year-old Avon, Colo., resident, is out to help people -- specifically, young adults -- battling cancer.

To do so, Sutter is participating in the 10.10.10 First Descents Challenge, pushing to reach his goal of completing 10 athletic challenges and along the way inspire 10,000 people to contribute $10 each, hoping to collect a total of $100,000 for First Descents, a nonprofit organization that provides free outdoor-adventure therapy for young adults with cancer.

By the end of 2010, Sutter will have trained for 700 hours, traveled 8,500 miles and climbed the equivalent of Mt. Everest four times.

"The point was to really challenge myself, to see what I could accomplish and to take some of the inspiration that I've gotten from watching some of the campers at First Descents," Sutter said.

The Lazy Marathoner: So this is what V.I.P. looks like

Thank you, Mother Nature, for smiling down on my back-to-back half-marathons.

Despite all the cold and rainy weather we've had of late, the conditions were excellent for Sunday's inaugural Rock 'N' Roll half-marathon, which started in Griffith Park and ended up in downtown Los Angeles. I did this on a bit of a whim, feeling strong after last week's walk/run in the Long Beach half- marathon, and I'm glad I did. Those guys really know how to put on a race.

Perhaps that's no surprise, given the cross-country slate of marathons and half-marathons they put on under the Rock 'N' Roll banner. But this team has it down to a science. By the time I decided to do the race, I'd missed the online-registration window. I arrived at the L.A. Convention Center late Friday afternoon, dreading the possibility of long lines at the registration tables and at the Expo. All that worry was wasted: I registered, paid for my bib and had my race packet in hand in about four minutes. Seriously. It seemed like the race organizers had one volunteer for ever runner in attendance. Was it different on Saturday when the crowds were larger? What was your experience like?

While at the Expo, I met race spokesman Dan Cruz, who kindly invited me to visit the V.I.P. tent on race morning with others from the media who were largely there to cover the celebrity quotient of the race. Among the competitors: actors Jerry O'Connell, Jennifer Love Hewitt and James Marsden, as well as Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and his girlfriend, KTLA TV reporter Lu Parker. (The mayor began the race but peeled off shortly after the start for work obligations: He was there to support Parker, whose charity, the Lu Parker Project, helps at-risk youth and homeless animals and raised more than $7,000 on Sunday. Perhaps even more amazing? The Miss USA 1994 looked as picture perfect at the end of the race as she did at the beginning of the race. Maybe even better, thanks to the post-workout glow. See photographic proof below.)

12-year-old climbs Mt. Kilimanjaro in fund-raising effort to combat childhood blindness

Jason Kontomitras had a dream and a desire. The 12-year-old Los Angeles resident wanted to help blind and vision-impaired children in Guatemala be able to receive sight-restoring surgeries. To accomplish this, he set out on a fund-raising mission -- climbing Tanzania's Mt. Kilimanjaro, which at 19,341 feet is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world.

Kontomitras reached one goal and surpassed another, summiting Kilimanjaro last month and transcending his fund-raising goal of $20,000, raising more than $25,000 to date -- the most ever by a climber.

Kontomitras was part of a Climb for Sight expedition, which makes biannual treks to Kilimanjaro. Climb for Sight and the trips are sponsored by the Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity, a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit humanitarian organization dedicated to reducing avoidable blindness by building clinics and training and equipping eye-care doctors in developing countries.

"My mom was on a Google search for volunteer or mission trips that families could take together, and she found the Climb for Sight website in 2007," Kontomitras said. "But I was only 9 at the time and too young to make the climb. So, last year we contacted the Climb for Sight group and started making plans to go."

Saturday is California Coastal Cleanup Day

The annual California Coastal Cleanup Day is Saturday and volunteers are invited to lend a hand picking up debris at the state's beaches, inland shorelines and neighborhoods.

Scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon at numerous locations statewide, including at least 60 sites in Los Angeles County, this is California's largest volunteer event.

Last year, more than 80,600 volunteers worked together to collect more than 1.3 million pounds of trash and recyclables from beaches, lakes and waterways.

Volunteers should pre-register with a local coordinator to participate (Los Angeles County registration is being handled via Heal the Bay). Participants should plan on wearing sturdy shoes and bringing a hat, gloves and sunscreen, and are encouraged to provide their own container -- such as a reusable bucket or bag -- for collecting trash.

"Coastal Cleanup Day has been incredibly successful at removing trash from our beaches and waterways, but in order to achieve this success, the Coastal Commission has had to provide hundreds of thousands of single-use, disposable items for our volunteers to use," said Eben Schwartz, Statewide Director of Coastal Cleanup Day. "It’s time for the Cleanup to make every effort to become a zero waste event."

Sponsored by the California Coastal Commission, other organizations helping coordinate the cleanups include Heal the Bay and the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium.

When combined with the International Coastal Cleanup, organized by Ocean Conservancy and taking place on the same day, California Coastal Cleanup Day is part of one of the largest worldwide single-day volunteer events.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Poster announcing this year's California Coastal Cleanup Day. Credit: California Coastal Commission

Snowboarder Kevin Pearce taking part in New York Buddy Walk this Saturday

Pro snowboarder Kevin Pearce, along with his brother David, will be making a guest appearance  Saturday at the 2010 New York City Buddy Walk.

To kick off the festivities, Kevin, David and the Pearce family will participate in the National Down Syndrome Society annual Times Square video presentation. Kevin will then address the walkers in Central Park about the importance of advocacy and will be available for autograph signings immediately following the walk. 

Kevin, an NDSS Sports Ambassador and Team Captain for the Buddy Walk, has set a fund-raising goal of $10,000 this year for NDSS. Those interested in supporting Kevin may join his team as a walker or by sponsoring Kevin, David and their team. 

All donations will benefit local area programs and the national advocacy efforts of the National Down Syndrome Society.

The Buddy Walk was established in 1995 by the NDSS to celebrate October's Down Syndrome Awareness Month and to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. Both the cause and the organization are extremely important to Kevin and the Pearce family.

Kevin was in the news earlier this year after suffering a traumatic brain injury from an accident while training in the halfpipe at Park City, Utah, for the Winter Olympics qualifier at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area.

He was completing a cab double cork -- a twisting double back-flip maneuver he's landed before -- when he caught his toe-side edge while landing.

Though wearing a helmet, Kevin hit his head above one of his eyes and was knocked unconscious. He underwent a four-month recovery and physical rehabilitation program in Salt Lake City and Englewood, Colo. and returned home to Vermont in May.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Kevin Pearce, left, and his brother David. Credit: Pearce family

Malibu Surfing Assn. MSA Classic kickoff party and benefit event Thursday at Malibu Wines

"No Leash Required," a special event to celebrate this year's Malibu Surfing Assn. MSA Classic surfing club competition, will be held Thursday beginning at 7 p.m. at Malibu Wines Tasting Room.

Honoring noted artist/photographer and Maneater Productions' director Steven Lippman and The Blue Project, proceeds from the evening will benefit SurfAid International.

The night includes food catered by Cal-Fresco and live music from Brett Dennen, Everest and KCRW disc jockey Mario Cotto, along with special guests Nia Peeples and Sam George. 

There will also be a live auction, with a chance to bid on items such as handcrafted surfboards, designer jewelry, clothing and works from world-renowned photographers, painters, sculptors and board-shapers.

Tickets are $50 presale or $60 at the door. Malibu Wines is at 31740 Mulholland Hwy. in Malibu.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Image courtesy of Maneater Productions / SurfAid International

Volunteer beach cleanup Saturday at Will Rogers State Beach

The August Nothin' But Sand beach cleanup will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon at Will Rogers State Beach, Pacific Palisades.

Hosted by Heal the Bay, the cleanups are held on the third Saturday of each month at different locales and are an opportunity to lend a hand helping keep our shores tidy.

All cleaning supplies will be provided, so volunteers are welcome to just show up (those younger than 12 need to be accompanied by a parent).

Attendees should plan on bringing their own drinking water as well as a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. More information on what to wear and bring is available on the Heal the Bay website.

Liability waiver forms will be available on-site and must be signed before pitching in. Participants 17 and younger must have a parent or guardian sign their form.

Groups of 10 or more are asked to call (800) 432-5229, Ext. 148, to let organizers know they plan to join.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Children play with a dog at Will Rogers State Beach. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Nathan Gocke, quadriplegic, will surf with world's top pros Saturday at the U.S. Open of Surfing

Nathan Gocke will be hitting the swells Saturday in Huntington Beach at the U.S. Open of Surfing, likely alongside some of the world's top surfers on the ASP World Tour -- defending champion Mick Fanning, nine-time titleholder Kelly Slater, current No. 1-ranked Jordy Smith. Gocke isn't an up-and-comer in the surfing community, but more of an up-and-doer. You see, Gocke is a quadriplegic, paralyzed at age 32 in a tragic surfing accident on his home break of Hermosa Beach in spring 2008.

Gocke will be participating in a very special surfing event, "They Will Surf Again," taking place at 2:15 p.m., to raise money for Life Rolls On, a division of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation dedicated to improving the quality of life for young people affected by spinal cord injury by utilizing action sports as a platform.

Also joining Gocke in the surf Saturday will be Jesse Billauer, who was also paralyzed in a surfing accident. Billauer, the 2004 Nike Casey Martin Award winner, is a main source of inspiration for Gocke throughout the documentary film, "Floating: the Nathan Gocke Story," which follows Gocke through his rehabilitation journey. 

"Spending two years filming Nathan's recovery was a life-changing experience," said "Floating" director/producer Richard Yelland. "Nathan became a personal inspiration to me in how he was able to put his tragedy aside and focus on his ability -- to dream and realize it. 'Floating' is a story of one surfer whose journey is a declaration that we can endure and overcome."

"Floating" is in limited theatrical release and can also be seen on FUEL TV Thursday at 9:30 p.m. and again on Sept. 5 at the same time.

Here's hoping Outposts readers planning to be at the U.S. Open of Surfing this Saturday will take time to cheer on Gocke, and let him know how inspiring his determination is.

-- Kelly Burgess

twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Nathan Gocke catches a wave. Credit: Mike Gomez

Irvine woman with rare disease conquers Mt. Everest

Cindy Abbott lives with adversity. The Irvine resident  started losing vision in her left eye more than 15 years ago, and began having a slew of mini-strokes and vertigo. No one could explain to her why any of it was happening.

Finally, in 2007, Abbott was diagnosed with Wegener's Granulomatosis, a rare and potentially deadly disease of uncertain cause. Affecting 1 in 20,000 adults, Wegener's Granulomatosis is characterized by the inflammation of blood vessels, a condition that restricts blood flow and can lead to lung, kidney and other organ damage.

Abbott, 51, has no idea how long she has left to live because of the incurable disease. But she did not let the debilitating affliction hold her back, and on May 23, she became the first person with Wegener's Granulomatosis to reach the top of Mt. Everest.

"I had decided to climb Mt. Everest prior to my diagnosis and becoming functionally blind in my left eye," Abbott said. "After the disease was stabilized, I continued my goal of climbing to the top of the world."

Abbott persevered with her dream, becoming one of fewer than 45 U.S. women to successfully summit the 29,035-foot peak.

"After years of training, spending six weeks on the mountain going up and down getting my body adjusted to the altitude, and the actual summit climb, I still find it difficult to believe I did it," Abbott said. "It was very difficult on many levels -- physical, mental and emotional."

And the weather made the attempt even more challenging. "I am talking about tent-destroying and cold," Abbott said. "The weather had all the climbers pinned in at different levels of the mountain." Adding to the difficulties was a cyclone that was moving toward the world's tallest peak, leaving a narrow two-day window for Abbott and other climbers to attempt the summit.