At the end of November, One Summit returned to Virginia Beach for our final Climb for Courage (CFC) and Climb Higher (CH) programs of the year. It was an inspiring weekend rooted in resilience, teamwork, and community, and a wonderful way to close out our 2025. At Climb for Courage, we welcomed 14 Little Warriors, paired one-to-one with 14 Navy SEAL mentors. We also had four additional floating mentors who offered support, words of wisdom, and additional hands for belaying throughout the day.
Here's a snapshot of our participant group at this Climb for Courage program:
The energy in the gym was contagious as teams worked together to proudly come up with creative names, including Three Days Grace, Team 41, the Rock Painting Double Hockey Sticks, and the Silly Dawgs. Once the teams had names, each mentee and mentor pair talked about their goals for the day. Some of those goals included:
From the first climb to the last cheer, the space was filled with laughter, determination, and the kind of camaraderie that reminds us why these programs matter so deeply. Climb for Courage is about more than reaching goals. It's about helping kids who have faced life-altering circumstances rediscover their strength, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Side by side with their Navy SEAL mentors, our Little Warriors were reminded that even when a climb feels overwhelming, they are never climbing alone.
The feedback we receive from families, mentors, and volunteers immediately after the climb illustrates the impact of our mission. The testimonials below reinforce our commitment to enhancing outcomes for our resilient Little Warriors through year-round support and dedication to serving the Virginia Beach area.
Testimonials
[Before I was] nervous and excited. I love climbing now!
– Little Warrior
[I would recommend One Summit to another SEAL] because it is important to be a part of the community, to give back, and to remember that we are not the only ones fighting battles.
– Navy SEAL Mentor
[Before Climb for Courage] I was happy but nervous because I didn’t know how high I could climb. [Now] I feel like a pro.
– Little Warrior
[Climb for Courage] is a fantastic opportunity to improve your perspective on life and do something that has immediate and tangible effects to help someone else.
– Navy SEAL Mentor
[I learned from my Navy SEAL Mentor] the courage to try and never give up.
– Little Warrior
We are a community that is drawn to the fight, and selfishly spending time with someone fighting for their life or struggling through hellacious treatments really puts into perspective what’s worth fighting for. It revitalizes your personal drive to deliver a positive impact on relationships in your control (family, friends, those that need help but won’t ask for it). And obviously being gifted an opportunity to share your own life experiences in a way that hopefully builds someone else's preparedness to face scary and sometimes impossible life circumstances is pretty special.
– Navy SEAL Mentor
[After doing Climb for Courage, I feel] confident, happy, and proud!
– Little Warrior
Honestly, I think [Climb for Courage] was perfect. Everything felt safe. Ya’ll really outdone yourselves and I can’t thank ya’ll enough for it.
– Parent
[My favorite moment of the day with my mentor was] spending time talking about life.
– Little Warrior
The opportunity to give back to those who are hurting is a privileged place to be.
– Navy SEAL Mentor
[I learned from my Navy SEAL Mentor] that reaching goals is fun!
– Little Warrior
It is incredibly impactful and humbling. Being able to serve our community outside of our job is really special.
– Navy SEAL Mentor
[After Climb for Courage] I felt more comfortable in my feet with those around me.
– Little Warrior
[My most memorable moment of the day was] hearing the kids share their goals and then work with their mentor to reach them.
– Team Leader
[After Climb for Courage] both kiddos were so happy & tired. Definitely a life changing experience for both.
– Parent
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The momentum continued the following day as we hosted Climb Higher, welcoming back twenty-two returning Little Warriors to the wall alongside eighteen Navy SEAL Mentors. Our team loves seeing familiar faces again and creating opportunities for our One Summit community to reconnect, climb, and reach new heights. The gym buzzed with energy and laughter, as kids pushed themselves further, supported by mentors who had become trusted teammates and role models. Weekends like this one reflect the heart of our mission at One Summit – building resilience through shared challenges and meaningful connection. Every climb, every smile, and every moment of encouragement reinforce what our Little Warriors, their families, and our Navy SEAL Mentors already possess: incredible strength and the ability to rise together.
We are deeply grateful to the partners whose generosity and support helped make this Virginia Beach program weekend possible. Pass the Bricks once again brought creativity and joy to our Little Warriors through engaging LEGO kits that inspired teamwork and imagination beyond the climbing wall. Their efforts are always a hit with our participants, and these kits add a lot of fun to our programs.
We also extend our sincere thanks to Wawa for helping fund our programs in the Virginia Beach area. Your assistance in making these programs possible in your community is incredibly appreciated and highly impactful. We also want to thank our wonderful friends at Born Primitive for standing behind our mission and supporting the One Summit community. Your contributions play a vital role in creating meaningful, uplifting experiences for the kids and families we serve.
Because of partners like you, our Little Warriors are reminded that their community is wide, strong, and cheering them on every step of the way.
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We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible child life specialists, social workers, nurses, and staff at the local hospitals and clinics who support our mission, help us spread the word about our programs to families, and assist participants with registration. For this program, we especially want to thank our friends at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. Your partnership ensures that more kids can access these resilience-building programs. To our alum families who continue to share our mission with new families in your networks — thank you for being ambassadors of our work. Your voices help us grow our community of Little Warriors in Virginia and beyond.
Lastly, we are eternally grateful to our Navy SEAL mentors, dedicated Team Leaders and volunteers, Young Professionals Board, and everyone in our community who comes together to make these weekends happen. We truly couldn't do it without you.
As the final Climb for Courage and Climb Higher weekend of 2025, this Virginia Beach program was a powerful way to close out a milestone year. In 2025, One Summit hosted more program weekends than in any year in our organization's history. We reached more kids, engaged more mentors, and built stronger communities than ever before. As we look ahead to 2026, we're carrying this momentum forward. We are committed to expanding our reach, deepening our impact, and creating even more opportunities for kids and families to build resilience beyond cancer. Each Climb for Courage and Climb Higher weekend is different. Still, the mission remains the same: creating a supportive community for each family, mentor, and volunteer who is involved in our organization's work. See you all next year!
Are you interested in participating in an upcoming Climb for Courage program, or do you know someone who might be interested in joining us? Please apply on our website or email maxwell@onesummit.org for more information!
