My uncle recently lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed with stage 4 in December, and passed away on February 1. I am an avid climber, and he was always quite the outdoorsman. I once told him that I would take him climbing, but we never got the opportunity.

He would spend days, even weeks in the woods and talk about his hikes and love of the mountains. I would tell him my stories of climbing, and he always got a kick out of those.

His battle with cancer was a challenging one that left him suffering for the last month of his life. I am so glad that his battle is finally over, and he can’t suffer anymore. I will dedicate my next climb to his memory, and I encourage everyone to keep climbing and introducing loved ones to that passion before it is too late.

I miss my uncle, and I only wish I had the opportunity to climb with him at least once. RIP Brian.