Climber with stage 4 colon cancer summits Yosemite’s Half Dome with an inspiring message: ‘I did this for a reason’
The Arlene Francis Center invites you to come out in honor of Kirk Keeler who was recently diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Through the trials & tribulations of living with this disease, he was inspired to rock climb a route up Half Dome in Yosemite to help bring awareness to cancer screening. With two years of training, amongst chemo treatments and trying alt treatments like RSO, the climb was accomplished on August 3rd! Kirk Climbed Snake Dike, 5,000 feet above Yosemite Valley, on August 3rd.
That very day, I sat in Martin Hamilton’s garden as he searched for the Press Democrat article that came out just days earlier. Martin, who ran the Arlene Francis Center and founding member of New College of California North Bay where Kirk graduated, says “I know this guy. We have a connection. Forget having a fundraiser for me, this guy, he went to New College. I know him and believe in what he’s trying to do here. I want The Arlene Francis Center to Help Kirk with his documentary.” Immediately we contacted the reporter of “Half Dome the hard way: Man with cancer teams up with renowned Santa Rosa climber for iconic Yosemite ascent” -Michael Shapiro, Press Democrat and got a hold of Kirk Keeler’s team. We found a way to support Kirk in this Documentary.
Scan the code to help fund the soundtrack to Half Life!
Documentary
“Kirk’s goal, ultimately, is to climb Half Dome with Kevin, but more get the word out about how critical pre-screening is to discovering if you have colon cancer or not,” said Jen Miramontes of Cancer Champions in Kirk’s Documentary. “It’s really loud and clear to me that I don’t want people to go through what I’ve had to go through,” Keeler adds at the end of the short film trailer. “It’s not just a climb that I want to do and accomplish. I want it to be for something bigger.”
December 14th, 2024 Fund the Soundtrack
Arlene Francis needs to raise $10,000 to fund the soundtrack to Half Life, Documentary by Kaare Iverson about Kirk Keeler’s amazing achievements. We would like to open our building for a night of Music, Photography gallery, Film Screening and other Nonprofits that are all coming together to educate people on how important it is to get screened for cancer. Kirk did a huge thing learning something new and doing something most people wouldn’t fathom.
Kirk submitted Half Life to the Wild and Scenic Film Festival in Kirk’s home town, Nevada City. Submissions for the festival will be released on Dec. 12th. This is your chance to pre-screen Kirk Keelers Documentary. Live music with Sol Horizon and Gill Brothers Band. Hosted and recorded by KPFA. Raffle and silent auction. If you want to contribute, donate or volunteer, Please contact us!
Sol Horizon is Sonoma County’s premier reggae band. Voted “Best Band” in the North Bay Bohemian’s “Best of the North Bay” Reader’s Picks in 2022 and 2023, as well as “Best Reggae Band” in the North Bay seven times, including the last 3 years in a row and 6 of the last 7 years, the band is renowned for its
energetic live performances and powerful lyrical content centering on themes of peace, love, positivity, community, sustainability and the re-vitalizing power of nature. The band members are deeply rooted in and nurtured by their dynamic local community, with strong ties to the arts and culture of Sonoma County and its delicate natural splendor.
Gill Brother’s Band
Hailing from the idyllic peaks of Cobb Mountain, the Gill Brothers have carried the craft of guitar and song together for over a decade. With amplifiers turned to ten, brothers Jacob and Connor wield mean, fluid, cutting, scuttling lead guitars that echo from coast to coast across these United States.
Their sound combines dueling lead guitar work inspired by the likes of AC/DC, The Outlaws, and Thin Lizzy with surrealist storytelling delivered through a laid-back twang, reminiscent of alternative rock and country acts such as The Beat Farmers, Dinosaur Jr., and Drive-By Truckers.
With a unique and heartfelt synthesis of American rock, country, and blues stylings, Gill Brothers Band pushes towards a new sonic frontier, blowing the roof off every dirty dive they play, barreling down Highway 175 to the next gig.”
Arlene Francis Center needs your support.
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Transformative Gatherings
This is your opportunity to help be part of something big.
We cant do this on our own and we need your help. Do you have items that would be great for a raffle/ silent auction? Interested in getting involved?
Martin Hamilton passed away 3 weeks after asking us to host this event. He really wanted to connect with Kirk. The Arlene Francis Center is continuing with his wishes and we’re asking you to come out to this event and support Martins last connection. If you knew Marting, he was always connecting and supporting people and we need your help to make this connection shine.
