Life is full of challenges. Some are more daunting than others. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center's mission is to eliminate cancer and related diseases as causes of human suffering and death. Meeting that challenge is a long and arduous endeavor. Climbing a mountain peak is also an arduous task requiring skill, special tools, tenacity and determination. Like science you can see the summit in the distance but as you continue up, it may not seem to be getting any closer. The Big Expedition for Cancer Research — Unclimbed Mountains to Conquer is intended to show that seemingly insurmountable challenges are attainable and that they can lead to successes — such as finding a cure for cancer.

These mountains are unclimbed because they are hard to reach and only a goal-oriented group with a mission would take on such a difficult task. The Big Expedition for Cancer Research brings together a group of professional mountaineers who will take on the challenge of one of these unclimbed mountains somewhere in the world. The general public will be able to be a part of this adventure through the news media and the Internet. They will see that success can be achieved through planning, teamwork and commitment.