Paint for life

Students contribute masks to decorate Climb for Life event

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The art club at Garehime Elementary School has been about more than paint strokes, sketches and sculptures in the last few weeks.

The fourth- and fifth-grade students have been spending their club time creating theater masks to help bring awareness to ovarian cancer, the fourth leading cancer death among women.

"We're helping to bring awareness," said Erin Sawhill, Garehime's art teacher. "If (women) know the symptoms they can go to the doctor."

The 57 masks the children have designed, painted and decorated represent the fact that one in 57 women get ovarian cancer. If it is diagnosed early, there is a 90 percent chance of survival. Early signs can include abdominal swelling, bloating and back pain.

"It feels really good to help other people and make them aware before they get it," said Blair Bouree, a fifth-grader.

The masks will be displayed on a 4-by-8-foot awareness ribbon at the fourth annual Climb for Life, a two-day event that begins at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Red Rock Climbing Center, 8201 W. Charleston Blvd.

Sawhill, a member of the committee putting on the event, wanted to get her students involved as a way to benefit the Health Empowerment Research and Advocacy (HERA) Women's Cancer Foundation and the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Nevada (OCAN), the groups that will be receiving proceeds from the fundraiser.

One mask will be painted solid teal, the nationally recognized support color of ovarian cancer.

The Climb for Life event is open to men and women of all ages and has a $30 registration fee to enter. Participants also can collect pledges. Anyone who raises $250 or more will be entered into a drawing to win climbing gear including tents, shoes and backpacks.

Other activities will include Learn to Climb and Skills clinics from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for beginner to advanced levels that cost $30. Massages will be given to participants in the relaxation room from noon to 4 p.m., and Yoga for Life will be held at 1 p.m. The cost for yoga is $5 for participants and $10 for those not participating in the Climb for Life.

Saturday's events will be followed with the Climb for Life Celebration from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Roadrunner Saloon, 9820 W. Flamingo Road. There will be food, a cash bar, entertainment and the gear raffle during the party. This event is free to all participants and volunteers and $10 for the public.

The event will continue from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Sunday in Red Rock Canyon with Jackson Hole Mountain Guides. Novice and beginning climbers are welcome. The group will meet at Red Rock Climbing Center.

The cost is $100 for all Saturday and Sunday events, $80 for the Saturday Climb for Life Event and Sunday's climb, and $50 for Sunday only.

All proceeds benefit the HERA foundation and 90 percent of the money goes directly to the cause.

Las Vegas is the first of five Climb for Life events that will be held in 2006. The Garehime art club students' masks will travel with the event to Mexico City, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Louisville, Ky.

The students and their families were all given tickets to attend the events and see their art work on display.

For more information, visit www.climb4life.org.