Love Hope Strength Foundation's 'Everest Rocks': Elite Mountaineers, Musicians, Cancer Survivors Trek to Basecamp for First Ever Concert on Mount Everest

"Everest Rocks" is the climax of the 2007 campaign to bring more awareness to 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. On October 9, forty people including elite mountaineers Sean Swarner, Alan Hobson and Jake Norton; musicans and cancer survivors will embark on the fourteen day trek to Everest base camp followed by an acoustic concert at base camp. Musicians include: The Alarm's Mike Peters, Stray Cats drummer Slim Jim Phantom, The Fixx lead singer Cy Curnin and guitarist Jamie West-Oram, renowned drummer Adam Topol, UK folk artist Nick Harper, Glenn Tilbrook of The Squeeze and acclaimed MTV producer Alex Coletti, the Emmy award winning MTV producer and creator of MTV "Unplugged" series.

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) August 9, 2007 -- Sean Swarner, a medical marvel and the first cancer survivor to climb the "Seven Summits", fellow cancer survivor and renowned summiteer Alan Hobson and famed outdoor adventure photographer Jake Norton will join a group of 40 musicians, mountaineers, artists, cancer survivors and supporters on a fourteen day trek to the base camp of Mount Everest. The journey begins on October 9, 2007.

"Everest Rocks" is the climax of the 2007 campaign to bring more 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.

It was then that I promised myself when I got healthy I would climb that mountain and other mountains to celebrate life. Trekking to Everest alongside these truly inspiring men and with friends, family and fellow cancer survivors will be one of the most challenging and rewarding accomplishments in my life.

• Sean Swarner, 32, is the only person in the world diagnosed with both Hodgkin's disease, at age 13, and Askin's Sarcoma, at age 15, which resulted in the removal of a golf ball-sized tumor in his right lung. Both diagnoses were supposed to kill him within weeks. A decade later, with only partial use of his lungs, Swarner became the first cancer survivor to climb Mount Everest and now more recently became the first cancer survivor to climb the tallest peaks on each of the seven continents. Swarner's new goal is to become the fifth person in history to accomplish the "Adventure Grand Slam," which consists of climbing the seven summits as well as trekking to the North and South Poles. http://www.seanswarner.com
• Alan Hobson, 49, achieved his dream of reaching the peak of Mt. Everest ten years ago. Three years later he was diagnosed with cancer of the blood and given one year to live. Today, Hobson is an Everest summiteer a worldwide adventurer and an Adventrepreneur™, a serious businessman who has successfully trademarked his own business niche. Climb Back from Cancer -- Introducing The 10 Tools of Triumph for Survivors and Caregivers is Alan's sixth book co-written by his wife Cecilia. It chronicles their uplifting true story and pinpoints what they consider are The 10 Tools of Triumph™ for survivors and caregivers -- the key psychological skills necessary to survive life-threatening illness and thrive beyond it. http://www.climbback.com
• Jake Norton, 32, is one of only a few people to reach the summit of Everest twice in consecutive years. He has spent more than 365 days on the mountain. In 1999, Norton found the 75 year-old remains of British pioneer climber George Leigh Mallory; and in 2001 rescued Chinese glaciologists on the mountain. Norton has a wide range of experience in one of the world's most inhospitable places. Norton will serve as the photojournalist to document the trek and as second to help navigate the safely to base camp. http://www.mountainworldproductions.com
• Mike Peters was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 1995, cancer returned in 2006 when he was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocyte Leukemia. He continued to tour with his band while undergoing treatment. In 2000, James Chippendale was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of leukemia and was given 50-percent chance of survival.

"When I was going through chemo for the second time, I would stare out the hospital window at a mountain across the range," said Peters. "It was then that I promised myself when I got healthy I would climb that mountain and other mountains to celebrate life. Trekking to Everest alongside these truly inspiring men and with friends, family and fellow cancer survivors will be one of the most challenging and rewarding accomplishments in my life."

The fourteen day trek to Everest base camp will be followed by an acoustic concert at base camp and a rock concert in Kathmandu. The Alarm's Mike Peters, Stray Cats drummer Slim Jim Phantom, The Fixx lead singer Cy Curnin and guitarist Jamie West-Oram, renowned drummer Adam Topol, UK folk artist Nick Harper, Glenn Tilbrook of The Squeeze and acclaimed MTV producer Alex Coletti, the Emmy award winning MTV producer and creator of MTV "Unplugged" series, are just a few of the music luminaries making the trip to Everest.

"James and I feel passionately about getting as many of our friends in our industry involved in our efforts," said Peters. "Our close connection with musicians worldwide allows us to create innovative, music related outreach and awareness programs to educate people around the world who might not have the same resources we did during our battle with cancer. We look forward to spreading love, hope and strength through this foundation."

"Empire Rocks" was the first of the groundbreaking gigs in the "Rocks" line-up. In April, Peters with Billy Duffy (The Cult), Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats) and Dave Wakeling (English Beat) performed their inspired single "Strength" on the observation deck of the Empire State building after walking 1,576 steps to the top. The song is currently available on iTunes, with all proceeds going to LHSF. It was the first live concert held atop New York City's tallest building. A video of the performance can be viewed on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_zU4Vjbqzc

"Snowdon Rocks", held in the band's home turf of Wales on June 22nd and 23rd, was another huge success. Peters' symbolic hike 3,560 feet above sea level and high altitude performance at the summit of Mount Snowdon raised $80,000 for LHSF charities and the Wales hospital where Peters was treated for Leukemia. Seeing this mountain everyday from his hospital bed, Peters vowed to climb this and other mountains when he recovered. The Mt. Snowdon trek and Snowdon Rocks concert can be viewed on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ0oWCpMues&mode=related&search= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf7ttvYaHcw&mode=related&search=

The entire "Everest Rocks" journey will be captured for a documentary that is being directed by MTV's Coletti and produced by Brian Isley. The taping will include the training, kickoff events, trek, base camp acoustic set and rock show in Kathmandu.

Sponsors of Everest Rocks include: High Gear, iTunes, Gibson Guitars, Cephalon Oncology, Oregon Scientifics, Outside magazine, Kestrel Pocket Weather Meters and more signing on daily.

For more information check out http://lovehopestrength.com/everest or www.everestrocks.com

Love Hope Strength Foundation (LHSF) is an international not-for-profit organization with chapters in The United States, United Kingdom and Australia, founded by leukemia survivors Mike Peters, of the Welsh Rock Band the Alarm and James Chippendale, President of CSI entertainment. The goal of LHSF is to give people with cancer the same opportunities Peters and Chippendale received including access to information, quality cancer treatment, medications and support.

Cancer Center Support Network: LHSF will provide critical funding for cancer centers worldwide to provide better access to quality treatment and give the best chance at survival. The Nepal Cancer Relief Society is the first LHSF project and a test market for future projects. Through The Nepal Cancer Relief Society, LHSF will sponsor the clinic at Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital and provide funding and needed equipment. The goal of LHSF as future sponsors is to help clinics all over the world provide treatment and save thousands of lives.

Online Patient Support Network: LHSF's online support network will provide a filtered and vetted listing of information and resource. This website will serve as a tool for those dealing with cancer and will include links to the leading doctors, treatments (pharmaceutical, integrative and complementary) hospitals, treatment centers, diet, exercise, meditation/prayer, clinical trials, books, support groups and Alan Hobson's "Ten Tools for Triumph."

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