Climbing for a Cause: Len Forkas Scales Everest for Kids with Cancer

by Conor Gillingham, Reston Letter Intern

Forkas rests during his climb of Mt. Everest in May. Photo courtesy of Len Forkas.

Len Forkas, founder of Hopecam—a nonprofit that helps children with cancer stay connected to their classrooms and friends—completed his climb of Mount Everest just a few months ago in May 2025. The grueling expedition was part of Hopecam’s latest fundraising campaign, which raised $850,000 to support children battling cancer.

As part of the campaign, Forkas dedicated each stage of the climb to a child supported by Hopecam, reinforcing the organization’s motto: No child battles cancer alone. All funds raised will go toward providing the technology needed to bridge the social gap these children face during treatment.

Forkas’ motivation for climbing Everest stems from personal experience. During his son’s battle with leukemia, Forkas began exercising to manage the stress—and eventually signed up for a 50-mile ultramarathon with the Reston Runners. That first race became Hopecam’s inaugural fundraiser, generating $5,000. Inspired by its success, Forkas made endurance events a regular part of the nonprofit’s fundraising efforts.

After running more marathons, Forkas’ mission took a new turn in 2018 when he was invited to climb Mount Vinson, Antarctica’s highest peak. That experience led him to pursue the Seven Summits—the tallest mountains on each continent—culminating in his most ambitious challenge yet: Everest.

“I’ve given a lot of leadership talks about mission-driven teens and people who believe in a purpose greater than themselves,” Forkas said. “So I’ve taken these really hard physical challenges and found leadership lessons embedded in them.”

The 2025 expedition marked Forkas’s second attempt at Everest. Knowing how difficult the climb had been the first time, he spent months reevaluating and improving his approach, both mentally and physically.

Unlike running, where endurance and momentum are key, climbing requires patience and strategy. The unpredictable terrain demands caution and adaptability. “That first time, I pushed myself past my threshold and kept going,” Forkas said. “The problem with altitude is that no matter your fitness level, everyone’s body reacts differently. There’s no formula.”

This time, he learned to go slower, to rest more intentionally, and to focus on progress rather than speed. Forkas also began to see the mountain as a metaphor for life, each challenge a reflection of the inner work needed to move forward. “In preparing for the second climb, I focused on what I could improve: building better systems and refining my strategy. That process changed the way I see the world,” he said.

“Knowing yourself, and knowing your strengths, benefits you greatly,” Forkas added. “You have to let go of others passing you. You have to climb your own climb. That’s the lesson I learned.”

What kept him going, above all, was the children. Every leg of the journey was dedicated to a different child, and that purpose fueled him through the most difficult stretches. “It wasn’t just about reaching the summit,” he said. “The entire journey—raising awareness and honoring these kids—that was the true accomplishment.”

Forkas emphasized the collective nature of the mission. “It’s a team sport,” he said. “So many people have to align to create an opportunity to reach the summit, and that’s not lost on me.”

These efforts have helped Hopecam grow its support network from 300 to more than 800 children each year. The Everest campaign has further motivated Forkas to build more sustainable support systems and expand Hopecam’s reach.

“Whether you’re doing an expedition or running a company, it’s all the same,” he said. “It’s all about how we treat the people we help.”