Team of 20 life science executives fundraising $800K to combat poverty

Talent and passion fuel the life science sector, and this weekend 20 of the industry’s most daring leaders will embark on the second annual Timmerman Traverse, a three-day, 23-mile hike across the Presidential Traverse in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. This year’s hikers, led by Traverse founder Luke Timmerman of the biotech journalism outlet Timmerman Report, each raised a minimum of $25,000 benefitting Life Science Cares and its network of nonprofit partners dedicated to serving communities in Greater Boston, Philadelphia, San Diego, and the Bay Area.

“The work made possible by Life Science Cares to fight persistent inequity is a visionary example of harnessing resources to effect real change for people living in or affected by the cycle of poverty,” said Katherine Andersen, Head of Life Science and Healthcare, Silicon Valley Bank. “Silicon Valley Bank is proud to participate in the Traverse for the second year running as part of our ongoing commitment to giving back to the communities in which we live and work.”

Along with presenting sponsor Silicon Valley Bank, lead sponsors include Occam, SmartLabs & Goodwin. Other sponsors include Troutman, Bacthera, Centerview Partners, K2 HealthVentures , Cota Capital, The Bowdoin Group, Greenberg, MPM Capital, Browne Consulting Group, Skadden, RTW Funds, Verge Scientific, MassBio, Pacific West Bank, Cooley, 5AM Ventures, Gunderson Dettmer, The Higgins Group, Wolf Greenfield, Bain, Clarion, The MoFo Foundation, JLL, Alloy Therapeutics, Klein Hersh, CBRE, Section 32, Scipher, MacDougall Advisors, Amgen, Organix Inc. (Symeres), Omega Funds, 1AB, Third Rock Ventures, Clora, Goldman Sachs, Lando & Anastasi, Tyra Bio, Wexford, Ropes & Gray, Interphase Systems & Argot Partners.

The inaugural 2021 Traverse surpassed its original fundraising goal, prompting the organizers and hikers to aim even higher this year. All proceeds will be used to continue funding programs that focus on eliminating poverty by providing access to basic needs, education, and opportunity.

“The spirit and passion behind the Timmerman Traverse perfectly capture what makes this sector so unique and effective in its unwavering commitment to improve lives,” said Sarah MacDonald, President of Life Science Cares Boston. “We are grateful for the continued support shown to us and our nonprofit partners by Luke and his impressive team of Traverse hikers, who made it their mission to beat this year’s fundraising goal in the name of fighting the complex effects of poverty.”

“Bringing a team together for a second Traverse has been my intention since finishing last year’s climb,” said Luke Timmerman, Traverse founder. “I’m honored to be surrounded by a team that’s broken our fundraising goal two years in a row on behalf of advancing Life Science Cares’ mission to end poverty.”

DONATE: To support the Traverse, visit the Timmerman Traverse 2022 website where you can donate directly to the effort.

The 2022 Traverse team includes:

Katherine Andersen, Head of Life Sciences, Silicon Valley Bank                                Donate               LinkedIn

Chip Clark, former CEO, Genocea Biosciences                                                               Donate               LinkedIn

Sue Hager, Chief Marketing Officer, A16Z                                                                      Donate               LinkedIn

Alex Harding, Entrepreneur in Residence, Atlas Venture                                            Donate               LinkedIn

Bernat Olle, CEO, Vedanta Biosciences                                                                          Donate               LinkedIn

Mark Murcko, Founding CSO, Dewpoint Therapeutics                                               Donate               LinkedIn

Amanda Banks, Advisor, Harbinger Health                                                                    Donate               LinkedIn

Julie Sunderland, Managing Director, Biomatics Capital                                             Donate

Parag Shah, CEO, K2 HealthVentures                                                                              Donate               LinkedIn

Lalo Flores, CEO, Century Therapeutics                                                                          Donate               LinkedIn

Bonnie Anderson, Founder and executive chairwoman, Veracyte                            Donate               LinkedIn

Deb Palestrant, Partner, 5AM Ventures                                                                         Donate               LinkedIn

Doug Fambrough, Founder & former CEO, Dicerna Pharmaceuticals                      Donate               LinkedIn

Dave Melville, Founder and CEO, The Bowdoin Group                                               Donate               LinkedIn

Art Krieg, Founder and CSO, Checkmate Pharmaceuticals                                         Donate               LinkedIn

Nina Kjellson, General Partner, Canaan Partners                                                         Donate               LinkedIn

Mostafa Ronaghi, Executive Chairman & Co-founder, Cellanome                            Donate               LinkedIn

Jennifer McNealey, former CFO, Codex DNA                                                              Donate               LinkedIn

Ashvin Bashyam, R&D strategy, Ensoma                                                                        Donate               LinkedIn

 

A special thanks also to Uciane Scarlett and Josh Thornton, each of whom signed up and fundraised to participate, but had conflicts with the hike itself!

 

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR!