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Two years have passed since local Vail resident Chris Cobb undertook a mission to support military families in their time of need by undertaking a climb to the top of Mt. Denali. This time Chris will be climbing the world’s highest mountain peak, Mt. Everest, in Nepal. In his first hike, he was able to meet both his goals, of climbing the mountain and raising funds. Chris raised $30,000 for Fisher House.
Chris climbed his first big mountain 4 years ago, and before his Mt. Denali climb, he climbed Mt. Erie, Mt. Baker, and Mt. Rainier (twice). His climb will raise needed funds that will go directly to the Fisher House to pay for food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and such. Fisher House is a program that houses the loved ones of military members while they undergo medical treatment at the VA. For more information on the Fisher House program, visit: https://www.fisherhouse.org/
Chris and his father are both Air Force veterans. Chris served in the Air Force as a U2 Crew Chief and his father retired from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in 2005 after 26 years of service and settled in Vail. Following his active service, Chris moved to Vail as well.
A few weeks ago, Chris did a radio spot and was presented with a hand drawn picture from one of the guests, with the simple but profound words of “Veteran, – Chris, Thank You.” Chris noted that this act choked him up saying, “It’s amazing what those guys at the Fisher House do for our vets and their families. The financial burden that having to pay for lodging and food for an extended period of time, while the veteran is getting medical care, would be huge. Without the Fisher House, a lot of these families wouldn’t be able to be together during some of the hardest times in their life. I’m always humbled when I go over there at the impact the employees and volunteers make on a daily basis. I’m just climbing a mountain, but those folks help people every day.”
Chris also has a site at www.housesfortroops.com/fisherhouse, to donate funds. Any amount is welcomed as it adds up in the end and does make a difference. Chris notes that “Most people are sponsoring per foot climbed. You can do a nickel or a penny per foot. The summit is 29,029 feet so a penny a foot would be about $290, if I make it to the top. If I don’t it would be a penny per foot up that I was able to go.”
