In late August UAB Associate Professor of Medicine Raymond L. Benza, MD, will begin a 4-day climb up Grand Teton. At 13,770 feet (4198 meters) the peak is the highest mountain in the jagged Teton Range.
“I’m taking on this challenge in honor of a patient, friend, and colleague who was an inspiration to me and all who met her — Katherine Hanks, RN,” he says. “Katherine lost her life to PH this past spring, and I want to do this to honor the way she lived. I knew Katherine as the ‘Tiger’ who always had a fighting spirit, positive attitude, and was determined to live life to the fullest. She was not only incredibly intelligent, but also was selfless and extremely helpful to other patients and families suffering from and dealing with PH. She was truly an inspiration and beacon of light to all by demonstrating the immense impact one person can have on many lives.
“Breathing will become more difficult as I approach the summit, mimicking the primary symptom of pulmonary hypertension — sustained breathlessness,” he says.
Pulmonary hypertension is a deadly, rapidly progressive, and relentless disease that makes it difficult to breathe, due to constriction of the pulmonary arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs.
Dr. Benza is seeking individual and corporate sponsors. All funds raised will go the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, a nonprofit organization with a mission of finding ways to prevent and cure pulmonary hypertension and providing support, education, advocacy, and awareness for patients and their families.
“This disease steals our loved ones, our wives, husbands, and children from us in the prime of their lives. Please help me raise the money for research by sponsoring my climb,” he says. “It is only through the time, effort and dedication of the scientific community that we will conquer and cure this disease.”
Donations are tax deductible and will be used to fund life-saving research. To make a donation, visit Dr. Benza’s Web page on the Pulmonary Hypertension Association Web site at www.firstgiving.com/drraybenza.