Who We Are
Co-founded by Ron and Dianne Farb in 2003, our small Foundation has made a tangible impact on the lives of many people fighting cancer. The Foundation has funded or created psychosocial and palliative care programs which provide support to the patient and the family, funded research grants, and given kids an opportunity to attend cancer camps. By focusing on underserved needs, we like to think that our gifts fill in the cracks left by organizations that focus on the big picture.
Our Mission
The Climb for Cancer Foundation’s mission is to provide patient-centered support and fund the underserved needs of the cancer patients and their families, the clinical staff who treat them, and the social workers, child life specialists, and others who assist them in their cancer journey at UF Health and Shands.
Our Vision
Our vision is a world without cancer, but until that day, we believe that by providing support to cancer patients and their families undergoing treatment, we can make a difference in the fight against this disease. We envision a world where cancer is no longer a life-threatening illness, and where everyone has access to the resources they need to prevent, detect, and treat cancer. Join us in this fight and help us make this vision a reality.
One Final Climb
After over 20 years of unwavering dedication to supporting cancer patients and their families, the Climb for Cancer Foundation will sunset its operations on September 30, 2025. This decision, though difficult, was made with the belief that the legacy of our work will continue through endowments, ensuring lasting impact for years to come.
Thanks to your generous support, we’ve been able to provide critical patient-centered services, including grants totaling over $160,000 in 2024 alone. This includes $45,000 toward the Harriet’s Helping Hand program endowment, which will ultimately exceed $200,000 in principle, providing lodging, gas cards, Uber rides, and food vouchers to cancer families in need. We hope to see this endowment grow to $1 million over the next few years.
As we enter our final year, we aim to make it our most impactful yet. Our focus is to endow three key programs, ensuring their continuation in perpetuity. To that end, we have created the "One Final Climb" Endowment Campaign. Your contributions to this campaign can be made in honor or memory of loved ones, leaving a legacy that will benefit future generations.
We will also hold our annual fundraisers in 2025, including Gator Mountain Challenge, El Swampitan, and the Hogtown 5K Beer Run.
We deeply appreciate your unwavering commitment and invite you to join us in achieving this milestone. Together, we have made a difference—and together, we can ensure the Climb for Cancer Foundation’s mission lives on.
Thank you for climbing with us.
Our Team
We've formed a board of like-minded individuals who bring their special talents to the table to help guide our mission.
What We Do
Harriet's Helping
Hand
Travel expenses, food, and lodging are a constant challenge for families of cancer patients. This program, named for co-founder, Ron Farb's sister, helps defray the cost of treatment by providing food vouchers, gas cards, and lodging to cancer patients and their families. A donation of $5 buys a meal voucher, and a donation of $20 buys a gas card.
B. Dianne Farb
Scholarship
The B. Dianne Farb Health Education Scholarships provide support to individuals who have been diagnosed or treated for cancer and who are pursuing a medical, nursing, pharmacy, dental, or public health and health professions degree at the University of Florida or Santa Fe College.
Oncofertility
Program
The Oncofertility Program provides new fertility preservation options to patients who have been diagnosed with cancer or other serious diseases and who must undergo potentially fertility-threatening treatment.
Project
Continuity
Project Continuity provides interventions focused on cancer prevention, screening and linkage to care in the community, health care and dental settings. These interventions are designed in collaboration with key stakeholders including community members, clinicians, health care delivery leaders and community agencies.
Occupational Support for Cancer Patients
Unfortunately, occupational therapy services are not covered consistently by insurance plans, nor are the actual tools/strategies and techniques that may help a person obtain or maintain independence. We provide funds to conduct evaluations for, and purchase recommended, durable medical equipment, adaptive equipment, and assistive technologies for patients with a cancer diagnosis.
Streetlight Program for Adolescents and Teens
Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer frequently report unmet needs related to maintaining meaningful social relationships and receiving age-appropriate psychosocial supportive care. We fund Streetlight, a program that aims to meet these needs by providing long-term peer support and community engagement opportunities for adolescents and young adults with cancer through all stages of treatment--from diagnosis to cure or end of life.
150+
hours of counseling provided to pediatric cancer patients
100+
individuals have accessed fertility preservation services
400+
safe and comfortable room nights for oncology patients & their families
20%
reduction in the need for anesthesia in pediatric patients with the help of child life specialists
23
Thriving Kind workshops for cancer patients & caregivers to learn about wellness
Events and Fundraisers
Treks & Climbs
Kilimanjaro
Enjoy the wild splendor of Africa and experience the exhilarating and challenging quest for the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in the African continent, and raise money to fight cancer. Contact us at 352-333-9663 for more information.
News
Stay Up-to-Date with
The Climb for Cancer Foundation
Contact Us
5745 SW 75th Street #317
Gainesville, FL 32608
352-333-9663