Eastlake associate principal honors late sister, raises money for cancer research with Big Climb Seattle
In a tribute to his late sister, Eastlake High School associate principal Lowell Thomson is gearing up for Big Climb Seattle, which takes place on March 24. Big Climb Seattle challenges participants to climb Columbia Center’s formidable 69 floors and 1,311 steps to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
“Evie was my ‘Big Sis.’ She was about 6 years older than me, and for as long as I can remember, she was always looking out for me,” Thomson said in an email with the Sammamish Independent.
Evie was diagnosed with leukemia in 2020 and passed away in 2022.
“She fought against this horrible disease with that fierce spirit,” he said. “[She] also kept her sense of humor.”
Big Climb Seattle holds particular significance for Thomson, as it takes place on the second anniversary of Evie’s passing.
“When my sister Anne and I learned the date was March 24th, the two-year anniversary of Evie’s passing, we just knew we had to sign up for the Big Climb,” he said.
Preparation for the climb has had its hurdles.
“The biggest challenge I’ve faced during training is finding time to train adequately,” Thomson said.
Despite the time constraints, he remained committed to preparing for the climb, utilizing a Stairmaster as a focal point for his training.
Training is not the only time commitment required for the climb. Adults must raise a minimum of $150 to participate. Thomson’s four-person team aims to exceed this with a team goal of $7,500.
“I’ve used weekends for most of my social media posts and connecting with others to raise donations,” Thomson said.
When creating a name for his climb team, Thomson drew inspiration from Evie’s love for the sunrise.
“My sister Anne and I formed Team Sunrise in October when we learned about Big Climb Seattle. We chose the name because Evie loved the sunrise from her home in Ocean Shores,” he said.
Thomson expressed his appreciation for those who have donated to his team’s Big Climb fundraiser.
“People have been incredibly generous with their donations, and I am really grateful for the support.”
Because some cancer treatments rely on donated blood, Thomson makes a broader call to action as Team Sunrise prepares for Big Climb Seattle. Besides fundraising, he urges others to become blood donors.
“Cancer patients use blood products all the time during their treatment. One way to support people fighting cancer is to visit a local blood bank to donate blood or platelets. For anybody that wants to support the cause, this is a great no-cost way to help others,” he said.
Learn more about Big Climb Seattle at Big Climb 2024. Visit Thomson’s fundraising page at Big Climb 2024: Mr. Lowell Thomson.
