Kristine and Anete are two young doctors taking on the quest of climbing Africa’s highest peak Mount Kilimanjaro in February 2020 while raising awareness and funds for brain aneurysm research through the Brain Aneurysm Foundation.

Kristine currently works as a Neurosurgery research associate at University of Southern California Neurorestoration Center studying brain blood vessel diseases and novel surgical approaches for their treatment. Prior to this, she completed a 2-year post-doctoral scholarship at Stanford University where she worked on pre-clinical stroke studies helping to identify novel pharmacologic compounds to improve functional recovery after stroke. Her work so far has secured research grant funding, yielded numerous research publications and a patent application. Parallel to her research work, Kristine has grown to be an avid trail runner and hiker and has fallen in love with mountaineering. She ran her first marathon as part of a fundraiser “Neuro ICU-to-26.2” inspired by a ruptured brain aneurysm survivor Kathy Nguyen. She ran the LA marathon together with Kathy again this year and is planning to do it next year as well. Completing Southern California Six Pack of Peaks Challenge and climb Mount Whitney is also on her to-do list this summer as a preparation for the Kilimanjaro summit.

Anete is a junior doctor currently working in the UK. She is training to become a neurointensivist and works with patients with acute neurological and neurosurgical conditions, including brain aneurysms, daily. She believes in accessible healthcare and, once her training is completed, hopes to use her skills to help provide neurological care to people in regions of the world where access to medical care is difficult. In her free time, Anete enjoys long hikes and science fiction novels. To prepare for conquering Kilimanjaro, she is planning to combine a high altitude trekking practice with medical volunteer work in Himalayas this summer.

Kristine and Anete have been friends for almost 10 years or since they started their medical studies at Riga Stradins University in Riga, Latvia together. Inspired by the resolve and courage of the patients they now work with, the two friends are dedicating their long awaited reunion trip to a goal close to both of them – research to find a cure for brain aneurysms. They will be recording their journey in a documentary while telling the stories of the people who have been directly affected by brain aneurysms and who have chosen to take part in their journey to the summit by sharing their experiences and insights.

The Brain Aneurysm Foundation is the world's premier nonprofit organization solely dedicated to providing critical awareness, education, support and research funding to reduce the incidence of brain aneurysm ruptures. 

All proceeds go towards:

• Funding and supporting new research.
• Providing support and educational materials to the medical community, the newly diagnosed, survivors, family members, friends and the general public regarding the facts, treatment options, and recovery process for brain aneurysms. 
• Increasing awareness of brain aneurysms by promoting National Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month in September and by distributing aneurysm awareness materials to Emergency Departments in every hospital and to the community. 

With your support, we can start making a real investment to help fight the devastation caused by brain aneurysms and save lives. All donations are tax-deductible and every dollar raised goes to help support the mission of the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. 

If you cannot make a donation at this time, please forward this link to everyone you know. Post this on your Facebook and Twitter pages. Every donation counts, no matter what the amount. 

The loss of a loved one is devastating. Yet, we are always reminded by our hearts – how lucky we have been to know those that we loved even in our loss.

Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Your generosity and support is greatly appreciated.