Dr. Weight is Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Urology and the Cleveland Clinic. He leads a team of AI researchers using computers to improve the care of cancer patients in the AIM-HI lab. He founded Team8/Climb 4 Kidney Cancer to combine his love a climbing with his desire to improve the lives of those affected by cancer.

Nick Lamoreaux, a founding member since 2013, joined Climb 4 Kidney Cancer to honor his late friend and mentor, Michael Plautz, and make a meaningful impact in the fight against cancer. As acting Creative Director and board member, he leads the organization’s brand and creative vision across events, experiences, apparel, and digital channels. A designer with a background in architecture and experience design, Nick founded Cue Labs in 2008, creating brand identities and experiences for startups, nonprofits, and major entertainment and sports brands.

Resha Tejpaul is an academic administrator with over eight years of experience optimizing operations, managing cross-functional teams, and driving strategic initiatives at the University of Minnesota. She brings a data-driven, people-centered approach to organizational management, advancing HR practices that foster collaboration, efficiency, and employee well-being.

Julie Wright Card is the owner and President of DTSG Inc., operating Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que. She has built her career in business management and leadership while remaining deeply engaged in her community. Julie has served as President of her Chi Omega sorority and President of the Saint Thomas Academy Mothers’ Club. She has also volunteered as Silent Auction Chair for the Children’s Cancer Research Fund and the Saint Thomas Academy Auction.

Kara Bischoff is the Executive Director of Climb4KC, bringing extensive nonprofit experience that spans patient engagement, office operations, and internship management. A Brigham Young University graduate, she is dedicated to advancing the organization’s mission of supporting kidney cancer patients and their communities.

Bringing nearly 40 years of experience in higher education, Denise Szalkowski retired after 17 years as Executive Assistant to the President at SUNY Fredonia. A kidney cancer survivor herself, she leverages her personal experience to provide compassionate guidance and support as Climb 4 Kidney Cancer’s Patient Advocacy Specialist, helping patients navigate their journey with empathy and insight. She combines this with her expertise in leadership support, event coordination, and community engagement to drive meaningful initiatives, all while balancing a dynamic, travel-friendly lifestyle.

Nick Heller is a research scientist in the urology department at Cleveland Clinic. His research centers around the use of artificial intelligence and other computational methods to better evaluate the risk and treatment options for kidney tumors based on their appearance in cross-sectional imaging. Nick has been involved in Climb 4 Kidney Cancer since 2018 when he was a PhD student at the University of Minnesota and worked closely with that summer's cohort of Climb 4 Kidney Cancer scholars. Most recently, Nick helped to supervise the C4KC scholars at Cleveland Clinic for the past two summers and served as the race director for the C4KC stadium climbs in Cleveland in 2024 and 2025.

In Memory of Mike Wright (1964-2019)
Diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2004, Mike faced his journey with unwavering positivity. He first connected with Dr. Weight at the inaugural Climb 4 Kidney Cancer event in 2013 and became a driving force in the formation of Team8, the nonprofit behind Climb 4 Kidney Cancer. Even with metastatic cancer, he climbed all 6,000+ stairs at the stadium. Mike’s legacy continues to inspire—at his funeral, he requested donations to Climb 4 Kidney Cancer, raising over $30,000.