Diagnosed with Stage 4 incurable cancer, researcher and mountaineer Dr. Shaunna Burke, after summiting Everest in 2026, continues her journey for: 14 in 4.
Fourteen 8,000-metre peaks. Four years. Stage IV cancer.
This story isn’t about defying illness; it’s about redefining what life looks like when you live alongside it.
“Cancer leaves scars, but my spirit still climbs.”
[ About ]
As a researcher at the University of Leeds, Shaunna’s work focuses on exercise, prehabilitation, resilience and quality of life for people living with cancer — helping people prepare for, manage and recover from treatment.
She is also a motivational speaker and expedition climber. In 2005, she became the second Canadian woman to summit Everest, and in 2026, she returned to the summit, becoming the first woman with Stage 4 incurable cancer to reach the top.
Her extraordinary story is now being developed into a forthcoming book, represented by CookeMcDermid Literary Management, as well as a documentary currently under way.
Bringing together science and lived experience, Shaunna challenges perceptions of what is possible after a cancer diagnosis, showing that life doesn’t end with diagnosis; it evolves.
FOLLOW THE JOURNEY: The 14 Eight-Thousanders
COMPLETED CLIMBS
1/14: MAY 2026
MOUNT EVEREST: Everest is won long before you reach the summit.
I’ve climbed Everest twice — first in 2005 and again in 2026. Both expeditions taught me that success at altitude is as much about mindset, preparation and strategy as it is about physical fitness. Knowing when to push, when to adapt and when to wait for the right weather window can make all the difference.
My 2026 climb also had a wider purpose: raising funds for Macmillan and putting into practice the principles behind my research into how the body adapts to altitude and training during cancer treatment.
UPCOMING CLIMBS
2/14: SEPTEMBER 2026
MANASLU
At 8,163m, Manaslu is the world’s eighth-highest mountain and my second of the 14 eight-thousanders. Its name comes from the Sanskrit manasa, meaning “mountain of the spirit” — a meaning that feels especially significant to me.
Following two expeditions to Everest, this climb is not simply about reaching another summit. It is about exploring the spirit that carries us forward when the body is tested, the mind is challenged and the outcome is uncertain.
Manaslu represents the next chapter in that journey — bringing together preparation, mindset, science and lived experience at extreme altitude, and a belief in what remains possible when we find the strength within ourselves to keep climbing.
MORE THAN A MOUNTAINEERING CHALLENGE
Dying to Climb: 14 in 4 is a global movement to transform how the world understands metastatic cancer.
In May 2026, Shaunna returned to the Himalayas and climbed Mount Everest, while continuing to raise vital funds in support of the charity Macmillan Cancer Support. The story, research, and fundraising continues with her attempt at all 14 8,000 meter peaks in the next 4 years.
Corporate Partnership Invitation
We’re inviting select partners to join the Dying to Climb expeditions as corporate partners — organizations that share our belief in the power of human resilience, science, and storytelling.
Your sponsorship directly supports the “14 in 4” project and global outreach to inspire people living with chronic illness.
As a valued partner, your company logo will appear on social media, on expedition gear, and across campaign materials and press releases. Sponsors will also receive behind-the-scenes updates, co-branding opportunities, and early access to the film premiere.
Together, we can elevate a story that transcends mountains — one that shows what it means to keep moving, no matter the climb.
Thank you to our current partners!
Press & Media
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Following Shaunna’s completion of the Everest marathon, Dying to Climb has already caught the attention of major outlets for its extraordinary message: that movement, mindset, and meaning can redefine how we live with illness.
Explore recent coverage, interviews, and press resources below, and follow along as the next chapter of this story unfolds.
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