Today we’d like to introduce you to Anyssa.
Hi Anyssa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been a rock climber and professional climbing guide for over 15 years, but my relationship with climbing took on an entirely new meaning when I was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago.
Throughout my cancer experience, climbing became more than something I loved to do. It was a way to reconnect with myself, regain a sense of control, and remind myself that I was still strong and capable. At a time when so much felt uncertain, climbing gave me something incredibly valuable: the feeling that I was going to be okay.
That experience planted the seed for Genuine Climbing. I wanted other women affected by cancer to have the opportunity to experience what climbing had given me. Not just the physical challenge, but the confidence, freedom, joy, and sense of possibility that comes from doing something you didn’t think you could do.
I founded Genuine Climbing on a simple belief: Every woman deserves to feel strong, capable, and fully alive, regardless of a cancer diagnosis.
Today, Genuine Climbing is a growing 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free rock climbing experiences and multiday retreats for women affected by cancer. We bring women together from across the country to challenge themselves, connect with nature, build friendships, and discover what they’re capable of beyond their diagnosis.
What began as a deeply personal experience has grown into an incredible community. We’ve expanded our retreats to New York and Colorado, developed new climbing programs, and are continuing to build partnerships that will allow us to reach even more women.
One of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been watching women arrive at a retreat as strangers, often nervous about climbing, and leave with newfound confidence, genuine friendships, and a different perspective on what their bodies can do.
For me, Genuine Climbing has always been about something bigger than climbing. It’s about helping women see that cancer may be part of their story, but it doesn’t have to define what’s possible for the rest of their lives.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I think some of the biggest challenges have also led to the most meaningful growth.
Starting and growing a nonprofit from the ground up is an enormous undertaking, especially when you’re passionate about the mission and want to do so much more than your resources allow. One of the biggest challenges has been balancing my vision for Genuine Climbing with the realities of running a small nonprofit. There are so many women we want to reach, so many programs I’d love to offer, and only so much time, funding, and capacity to make it all happen.
Fundraising is an ongoing challenge. We provide our retreats completely free of charge because I never want cost to be a barrier to a woman having this experience. But that also means continually finding creative ways to raise funds, build partnerships, and connect with people who believe in what we’re doing.
Another challenge has been learning how to wear so many different hats. My background is in climbing, not nonprofit management. I’ve had to learn everything from fundraising and grant writing to marketing, community outreach, and organizational development. It’s been a steep learning curve, and there have certainly been moments when I’ve felt overwhelmed.
But perhaps the biggest lesson has been learning to be patient with the process. I’m someone who has big ideas and wants to make things happen, preferably yesterday! I’ve had to learn that building something meaningful takes time, persistence, and a willingness to keep moving forward even when progress feels slower than I’d like.
What keeps me going is the women we serve. When I see someone who arrived at a retreat unsure of herself climb higher than she ever imagined, or watch a group of strangers become a community of women cheering each other on, I’m reminded exactly why I started Genuine Climbing.
The challenges are real, but so is the impact. And that makes every obstacle worth navigating.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Genuine Climbing?
At Genuine Climbing, we believe every woman deserves to feel strong, capable, and fully alive, regardless of a cancer diagnosis.
We’re a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free rock climbing experiences and retreats for women affected by cancer. Our mission is to help women rediscover their strength, build confidence, and find connection through the transformative power of climbing and outdoor adventure.
What makes Genuine Climbing unique is that we’re not simply offering an outdoor activity. We’re creating opportunities for women to see themselves differently. Cancer can change the way you feel about your body, your abilities, and your future. Climbing offers an opportunity to challenge those perceptions. There’s something incredibly powerful about standing at the bottom of a rock face, thinking there’s no way you can do it, and then discovering that you can.
Our multiday retreats bring women together from across the country for outdoor rock climbing, adventure, and meaningful connection. No previous climbing experience is necessary, and everything is designed to meet participants where they are. We provide professional instruction, equipment, accommodations, and meals, all at no cost to the women attending.
One of the things that sets us apart is our focus on adventure rather than illness. While cancer is the shared experience that brings these women together, it’s not what defines their time with us. Our retreats aren’t about being a cancer patient. They’re about being an adventurer, a climber, a friend, and a woman discovering what she’s capable of.
I’m especially proud of the community we’ve built and the sense of belonging that Genuine Climbing has come to represent. Women arrive from different backgrounds, different states, and different stages of their cancer experience, often knowing absolutely no one. Within days, they’re encouraging each other on the rock, celebrating accomplishments, sharing stories, and forming friendships that continue long after the retreat ends.
I’m also proud that we’ve remained committed to making our programs completely free. We never want finances to determine whether a woman has access to an experience that could change how she sees herself and what’s possible in her life.
If there’s one thing I want readers to understand about Genuine Climbing, it’s that we’re not defined by cancer. We’re defined by possibility.
We’re here to remind women that there’s still adventure to be had, friendships to be made, challenges to overcome, and an extraordinary amount of life left to experience. Cancer may be part of their story, but it doesn’t get to write the rest of it.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I think we’re going to see a significant shift in how we approach cancer survivorship over the next 5 to 10 years. For a long time, the focus has understandably been on treating cancer and helping people survive. But as treatments improve and more people are living longer after a diagnosis, I believe the conversation is increasingly going to shift from simply surviving to truly living.
And that’s exactly where I see organizations like Genuine Climbing playing an important role.
There’s a growing recognition that recovery and survivorship involve much more than physical health. It’s also about rebuilding confidence, reconnecting with your body, finding community, and rediscovering a sense of adventure and possibility.
I think we’ll see more emphasis on experiences that get people outside, moving their bodies, challenging themselves, and connecting with others. Not just traditional support groups or wellness programs, but opportunities that help people reclaim parts of themselves they may have lost during their cancer experience.
I also hope we’ll see more collaboration between healthcare providers, nonprofits, and outdoor recreation organizations. Imagine a future where, alongside medical treatment and follow-up care, women are routinely introduced to opportunities for outdoor adventure, community, and personal growth.
One thing I feel strongly about is that we need to move beyond the idea that women affected by cancer are fragile or should be defined by their limitations. Of course, everyone’s experience and physical abilities are different, but I believe we should be creating more opportunities for women to discover what they *can* do rather than focusing solely on what they can’t.
For Genuine Climbing, my vision is to be part of leading that shift. I want to see our programs expand, reach more women across the country, and help change the way we think about life during and after cancer.
Ultimately, I hope the next decade brings a greater understanding that **surviving cancer and living a full, adventurous, extraordinary life are not mutually exclusive.** Women deserve both.
Pricing:
- our programs are free!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://genuineclimbing.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genuineclimbing/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GenuineClimbing
