Peter Braun was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. Peter is First Vice President-Investments and the principal of The Braun Group in Boulder, Colorado. He is a financial advisor, speaker, author, and the former radio host of “From Wall Street to Walnut Street”.

He is also the Chairman of the Board of “I Have a Dream Foundation” of Boulder County. The national charity works with low income youth in a long term program that provides mentoring, tutoring and enrichment. Upon graduation from high school, college scholarships are available for each Dreamer.

Prior to his current career as a financial advisor, he was a world ranked tennis player and has played tennis on six continents. He has been ranked #1 in the Intermountain 30 and 35 and over divisions. Tournament victories include The Kauai, Vail and Aspen Opens. He has also taught tennis in Hawaii, Vail and Aspen. He has given clinics with tennis stars Stan Smith, Dick Stockton, Roscoe Tanner, Harold Solomon and Tom Gullickson. He still teaches at local charity events and at Arthur Ashe Kid’s Day at The U.S. Open, where he has been paired with Steffi Graf. He is slated to be inducted into the Buffalo Tennis Hall of Fame in May, 2008.

Peter summited Mt. Kilimanjaro at 19,340 feet in Africa in 2005 with the largest group of blind people ever to summit the mountain. This group included Erik Weihenmayer (the only blind person to summit Everest) and four other blind people from around the world. Peter recounts, “It was an unbelievable experience to be with these amazing individuals who came together on this team.”

His other interests include finding a great powder day, cycling, scuba diving and traveling the world in search of a great adventure and great people. When he heard about this event, Peter said, “Sign me up!”

Cancer came to affect his life dramatically when his father was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1989. He left the mountains and returned to Buffalo for two summers, while he was studying for his M.B.A. at The Ohio State University. He was able to see first hand, the impact cancer can have. He wants other families to have the resources and support that Love Hope Strength can provide.

He is dedicating his trip to his father and to Sergio Libman. Libman was a two-time cancer survivor, who was tragically killed in a Boulder carjacking in December.

Peter is honored to join the group to help raise money for this great cause.

Garrie has been married to Jen for 15yrs and has a 7 yr old son called Garie, a budding drummer! For ease around the house they are referred to as Big G and Wee G (this progressed from Baby G) – not sure what he will get called next!

It is unusual for Garrie to be away from home for more than a week and this will be the longest time he has been on holiday – if you can call it a holiday! We will soon see how his Blackberry works - it is just about glued to his hands as is his mobile to his ear!!!

He has a brother Ronnie who is a successful Advocate in Scotland and of whom he is very proud. He is very close to Ronnie, his wife Lindsay and children, Ally, Luisa and Thalia. They will be supporting him throughout this challenge.

Garrie has lived in Scotland all his life although he now lives part time in his Knightsbridge flat and works between London and Glasgow. He is an Equity Partner in Gardiner & Theobald, consultants to the worldwide real estate and construction industry specialising in cost and project management with a staff in excess of 1000. He loves his music, art, snowboarding, skate boarding, football, tennis, fast cars and bikes. He still plays 11 aside football on a Saturday although said that he would give up at 40…..that was over 2 years ago!!

He is non-smoking , t-total, workaholic and his only addiction to life, family aside, is Coca Cola although Jen is hoping that the trek will reduce this to a healthy input. He loves to live life in the fast lane and rarely has more than 5 hours sleep a night and is known for his OCD nature!

Garrie has been touched by Cancer in so many aspects of his life. His mother sadly died at the young age of 50 and friends and other members of the family have battled against it both successfully and otherwise. Many of Garrie’s friends come from the music business and his love for music and life gives him the determination to help with this amazing cause. Garrie was persuaded one night by Slim Jim and Mike Peters to take part in the Everest trek over dinner in the Chelsea Arts Club.

Clem Burke of Blondie introduced Garrie to Slim Jim of the Stray Cats and then Slim introduced Garrie to Mike Peters of The Alarm. Mike has such a positive attitude to life having battled leukaemia twice and his love of life is so infectious. Wee G experienced his first concert last year in the Liquid Rooms in Edinburgh listening to The Alarm – he was mesmerised!

Garrie is dedicating this trek to his family; his friends and all those who have suffered and are suffering in the hope that one-day soon there will be a cure.

If you want to help support this cause then please contact Garrie on garrie@renucci.co.uk or jen on Jennifer@renucci.co.uk to receive the form to complete.

Interesting facts about Garrie
1. He once played football against Michael Schumacher
2. He has never touched a drop of alcohol all his life
3. Suffered Menegitis at 36 yrs old
4. Is a collector of many artefacts including footballs, art, watches, champagne, music memorabilia and various other things
5. Walked away from a 140mph smash unscratched
6. He was once a Punk Rocker!

7. has been buried in a snow hole and survived an avalanche!

Julie has lived in Aspen, Colorado over 17 years. She grew up in S.C.
and received her bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in
public health. She was a real estate broker before moving to Aspen.
She loves her life in the Rocky Mountains. She is a ski instructor
for the Aspen Skiing company and has worked for 15 years with the historic
Wheeler Opera House. For the last 6 years, she has been a house manager for
the Aspen Music Festival, and also works at the Great Divide, the only
guitar store in town. She plays bluegrass once a week with a group of
friends, nameless at this point, who have recently been performing at small
functions in town as well as playing music with The Roaring Fork Celtic Mega
Band whose next gig is at the Carbondale Mountain Fair. She also sings with
the Aspen Choral Society and the Aspen Chapel.
Julie has been looking for a cause to donate her time and energy to.
She had researched and contributed to the Himalayan Cataract project and
Mari’s children. Her good friend Peter Braun had mentioned the Love,Hope,
Strength foundation and that he was going to participate. Within that week
she received a Fed Ex letter from her college roomate, who shared that she
was dying of cancer. Julie felt a calling to make this journey and to
dedicate the hike to her old friend ,Susan Powell Cecka.
The philanthropic and atheletic aspects of the trip make it a perfect
package for her. She has enjoyed surfing in Costa Rica, diving in the
Caribbean, and paragliding off of Aspen Mountain. To date, she has known no
greater thrill than 1st tracks in the Highlands Bowl on a powder day. She
has competed in 41 triathlons, including 4 national championships and 6
marathons. All that said, she thinks this may be the most exciting adventure
of all, and can’t wait for the t shirt!