Yessenia and Anthony Villalobos attended their first Climb for Courage in San Diego in May of 2024 with their three children: Alanna (now 13), Luna (now 7), and Leo (now 9). Leo had wrapped up his treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) the summer before, and the family had been looking for something the siblings could all do together that involved movement and community. Since that first climbing experience, this incredible family has been advocating for the positive effects of everything that One Summit puts in motion for children, siblings, and families affected by pediatric cancer.
I had the chance to hear the most beautiful speech, given by Anthony and written by Yessenia, when I volunteered at the September 2025 program weekend in San Diego. With the family's permission, I would love to share that speech with the One Summit community, along with a little extra insight from Yessenia and Anthony. We recently spoke about resilience, the commonalities between the SEAL Teams and kids fighting cancer, and how we can all honor the big and little warriors in our lives.
JM: How would you define resilience?
Anthony and Yessenia: Resilience means not giving up; it means continuing no matter what the circumstances are. It means having faith for better times, practicing, looking further ahead, and (for us) treating the treatment as what we had to go through.
JM: Why do you think resilience is at the heart of the One Summit programs?
Anthony and Yessenia: Resilience is at the foundation of these Navy SEALs; it's there in their training with Hell Week, for example. The pain they endure and the discipline they need are all so like these kids fighting their battles against cancer. And we fight to win!
At One Summit's climbs, we've seen Leo climbing those rocks, figuring out what to do with his buddy, and we see how things that were applied to the wall are so similar to how we fought cancer. We got to see Leo interacting with a stranger who was giving him real options, allowing him to choose his own climbing path, to make his own plan, and to see the whole wall. It's so motivating and inspiring, and when we were going through Leo's treatment, we were acting as that Navy SEAL; we were communicating with him, sharing ideas on how to overcome these obstacles, and encouraging him every step of the way.
One Summit's climbs are more than just a person helping a child fighting cancer climb a wall – it's the whole picture. And these SEALs know that any wall can be climbed, so seeing your kid at the top of that wall is something we never imagined.
JM: How do you see the resilience model from the climbs showing up in your kids’ everyday lives?
Anthony and Yessenia: We can definitely see resilience showing up daily. Leo is unstoppable! He's only 8 years old, but he can wrestle his larger, older cousins on the trampoline with no fear! He brings that fearlessness with him into every activity or setting; whether he's rock climbing, ice skating, or playing with his friends and cousins, he shares solutions, shows up, and does so with style. He uses his hard hat, pin, and backpack [gifts from Climb for Courage] as reminders that he can take on whatever he wants in life.
JM: Can you talk a little more about the impact that including siblings in these programs has had on your family?
Anthony and Yessenia: Alanna, Luna, and Leo were separated for a long time, as he was in treatment during the Covid pandemic. When the girls were able to see Leo, they were watching him get weak from treatment, losing his hair, getting swollen from the medications he was on, and in pain from everything. Now, they talk about how quick Leo is on the wall, how he's able to climb to the top, and how they get to be there with him! They have been able to be more part of his world, and they see these One Summit climbs as an activity they can do together, thanks to Leo's cancer fight. It's so cool, and we are so grateful.
JM: What’s the biggest thing you would like to share with the One Summit community?
Anthony and Yessenia: We love getting to see how one warrior (the Navy SEAL) interacts with another warrior (the child). These little warriors deserve to be with military warriors. We all honor our soldiers, big and small. SEALs and kids fighting cancer and their siblings have both been through fights that require endurance, not giving up, accepting the journey, and completing the treatment. Oftentimes, cancer patients are not understood because they're different, but being a warrior is what they have in common with a SEAL. It's like a brotherhood when they are together; you can't explain it. The compassion these SEALs and kids have for one another is so powerful and palpable.
Please read on to hear more about One Summit's impact, directly from Yessenia. Below is her wonderful speech that she wrote, and Anthony delivered back in September at our Mentor and Team Leader training dinner in San Diego:
Our journey to this program was a significant one. Our son, Leo, was 7 years old and had just finished his three-year cancer treatment in August 2023. Leo went through his entire treatment during the Covid Pandemic, so it was incredibly hard to feel safe going back out into the world. Leo also struggled with leg pain, so finding a physical activity he could do was a real challenge.
Then one day, our team at Kaiser gave us the flyer for One Summit. Something about it just felt right. Leo was eight months out of treatment, and he was ready to try to be a regular kid again. We were also excited that his siblings could participate, unlike so many other programs that are only for the patient. Climb for Courage allowed all of them to feel included, to be together, and to start enjoying life again.
Since that first event, the relationships my kids built with their Navy SEAL buddies have extended far beyond the rock wall. One Summit offered us tickets to events and encouraged us to connect with our kids' mentors. Our Son Leo, and his buddy, Alex, created a wonderful bond before Alex moved away. I remember Alex helping Leo learn how to ice skate. He also met us at a lacrosse game and even came to see Leo perform.
Leo's journey truly shows the impact you all have. He is a different kid on the rock wall, and that courage has spilled over into his life. He told me that his buddy taught him to "never give up" and to "trust Alex, that he will catch him if he falls," because he was so nervous to let go of the wall. With every event, he's able to climb harder walls and reach higher goals than the last time. He also recently shared a new insight with me that perfectly captures the lessons he’s learned from this program. He said that he now knows to, "look up before his next climb… it keeps him from getting stuck to look further and have a plan for your next move."
That's what this program does. It provides a safe and supportive way for kids to find their mobility, their confidence, and their courage again. You don't just teach them to climb; you give them the tools to navigate a difficult world.
Thank you to each and every one of you—the Navy SEALs, the parent volunteers, and everyone who makes this program possible. Your dedication makes a real, lasting difference.
One Summit designs its programs with the genuine hope that the skills and support gained through its experiential climbing programs, community engagement events, storytelling initiatives, and bonds formed with our Navy SEAL mentors will go far beyond these offerings. Through their story, the Villalobos family gives our community confirmation that One Summit's intention is reality, and that these skills do flow into the lives of our participants.
With permission from the Villalobos family's oldest child, the amazing Alanna, we wanted to share her thank-you card, which she gave to the One Summit team during the September Climb Higher program. It drives this powerful point home and perfectly illustrates these lasting lessons.
Thank you for letting us attend this program again. Whenever we come, we’re excited to climb, hang out with our mentors, and build LEGOs. But that’s not all we do, we also learn. For example, I’ve seen my sister has learned to be brave and keep trying, my brother has learned to trust more, and I’ve learned to keep going even if you feel like giving up. Push yourself forward and don’t look back. These are skills we can use beyond the rock wall, so thank you for everything this amazing program has taught us.
Alanna Villalobos (Age 13)
