A team of 21 life science executives hiked the North Cascade Mountains in Washington State to benefit Life Science Cares this week

Not only did they reach geographic great heights, the 2025 Timmerman Traverse for Life Science Cares raised $1.15 million, surpassing the $1 million team goal to fight poverty and inequity in five life science industry hubs. They didn’t stop there, the team pushed forward with outreach and training until they finally hit the trails Aug. 18 and 19.

“Every year, the Traverse reminds me what’s possible when the biotech community comes together, not just to summit mountains, but to lift up the people in our communities who need it most,” said Luke Timmerman, founder of the biotech journalism outlet Timmerman Report and the Timmerman Traverse, in a recent note to the team. “We sweat, we struggle, we support each other, and we do it all with a shared North Star: making a real impact through Life Science Cares. This is more than a hike, it’s a movement to fight poverty.”

The 5th annual Traverse was a two-day, 20+ mile hike across the North Cascade Mountains in Washington State and this year included 21 industry leaders, each of whom raised a minimum of $35,000 benefitting Life Science Cares and its network of nonprofit partners dedicated to serving communities in Greater Boston, Philadelphia, New York, San Diego, and the Bay Area.

“Now more than ever, our communities are facing urgent and growing needs, and demand bold leadership and collective action. That’s exactly what the Timmerman Traverse represents. These leaders are pushing their limits to lift others, and their commitment is truly inspiring. We are profoundly grateful to each of them for showing up—for each other, and those counting on us,” said Sarah MacDonald, CEO of Life Science Cares.

Along with presenting sponsors Fenwick & West, KCap Biotechnology Fund, Exelixis, lead sponsors included HSBC, Menarini Stemline, Absci, General Genomics, Moleculera Biosciences, and 2Flo Ventures.

Other committed lead sponsors included Third Rock Ventures, Barclays, Todd Strategy, LLC, Russell Reynolds, Kura Oncology, 5AM Ventures, Adjuvant Capital, L.P., 1AB, Ally Bridge Group, Astellas, Bain Capital Life Sciences, Boston Consulting Group, Breakthrough Properties, Cantor, Carta, Corval, Fuel for Female Founders, Goldman Sachs, Guggenheim Securities, LLC, Inizio, Novotech, Piper Sandler & Co., Sam Brown Inc., Savills, The 5Ps LLC, Thorn Run Partners, and the Zebulon Foundation.

The Timmerman Traverse has raised $5 million for LSC since its inception in 2021. All proceeds are used to continue funding programs that focus on eliminating poverty by providing access to basic needs, education, and opportunity.

DONATE: To continue supporting the Traverse, visit the Timmerman Traverse 2025 website where you can donate directly to the effort.

The 2025 Traverse team includes:

• Luke Timmerman, Founder, Timmerman Report
• Aimee Raleigh, Principal, Atlas Venture
• Alan Smith, Partner, Fenwick
• Andrea Johnston, CEO, Fuel for Female Founders; Founding Partner, FiftyOne Advisory Group
• Andrew Lam, Managing Director, Head of Biotech Private Equity, Ally Bridge Group
• Chris Garabedian, CEO, Xontogeny; Venture Fund Manager, Perceptive Advisors
• David Goldstein, Co-Founder and CEO, Actio Bio
• Dorothy Lou Bailey, President, Exo Therapeutics
• Glenn Rockman, Founder & Managing Partner, Adjuvant Capital
• Ian Sanderson, Chief Financial Officer, Nimbus Therapeutics
• Jeff Hessekiel, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Exelixis
• John Moriarty, Chief Legal Officer, Avidity Biosciences
• Katherine Andersen, Head of Life Science & Healthcare, HSBC Innovation Banking
• Kemi Olugemo, Chief Medical Officer, Korro Bio
• Max Farina, Principal, 5AM Ventures
• Richard Wilson, SVP, Primary Focus Lead – Genetic Regulation, Astellas Pharma
• Rod Cotton, Boards, Eisai, Castle Biosciences
• Sean McClain, CEO, Absci
• Tamar Thompson, Vice President, Global Patient Experience & Insights Medical Affairs, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Board Chair, MassBio
• Troy Wilson, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Kura Oncology
• Vyas Ramanan, Venture Partner, Third Rock Ventures

The mountains have been hiked and you can still join this monumental effort to make a difference!

DONATE: Go to the Timmerman Traverse website and find a hiker you know. They’ll appreciate anything you can give — $100, or $500, or $1,000 – to support the team to continue raising critical funds to fight poverty.

About Life Science Cares

Life Science Cares (LSC) activates the financial and human capital of the life sciences industry and partners with nonprofits to disrupt the cycle of poverty and inequality in our communities. Now operating in five US life science hubs (Boston, Philadelphia, San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area, and New York) as well as Switzerland, LSC has invested $20 million and tens of thousands of volunteer hours in community organizations providing access to basic needs, access to education, or access to opportunity. Learn more at https://lifesciencecares.org/.