Climbing For A Cause: Len Forkas Climbs Mount Everest To Connect Kids With Cancer To Their Classrooms

Entrepreneur and endurance athlete Len Forkas is preparing for the climb of a lifetime — scaling Mount Everest in April 2025 to raise funds for children with cancer who face isolation during treatment.

The 65-year-old, who previously attempted Everest in 2022 but was forced to descend due to life-threatening pulmonary complications, is returning with renewed determination to complete his mission and support kids through his nonprofit, Hopecam.

If successful, Forkas will become the fifth-oldest person to complete the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each continent. But for Forkas, this challenge is about more than personal achievement — it’s about ensuring that no child battling cancer feels alone.

Forkas journey began in 2002, when his nine-year-old son, Matt, was diagnosed with leukemia. Forced to isolate to protect his immune system, Matt became cut off from his friends and classmates — a struggle that extended beyond his medical treatment.

“Matt felt cut off from the world, and I knew that loneliness was only making his fight harder,” Forkas said. “So, I worked with his school to set up a webcam connection — long before Zoom or FaceTime existed. The change in his spirits was immediate, and I realized that no child should have to face cancer alone.”

That realization led Forkas to found Hopecam, a nonprofit dedicated to helping children with cancer stay connected to their classrooms through technology and internet access. Since its inception, Hopecam has connected over 5,000 children across all 50 states.

Each step of Forkas’ Everest ascent will honor a child battling cancer, raising awareness for the thousands of children who still need support.

“The challenges of climbing Everest mirror what these kids face every day — physical exhaustion, mental resilience, and the need for an incredible support system,” Forkas said. “This climb is about showing them that they are not alone.”

Each year, 16,000 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer, and the average child undergoing treatment misses six to nine months of school. Many attend Title I schools, where over half lack internet access at home, making virtual learning nearly impossible without support.

Forkas goal is to raise $1 million, which will allow Hopecam to connect 5,000 more children to their classrooms.

As Forkas prepares for this monumental climb, his mission remains clear: ensuring that no child fighting cancer has to do it alone.