Misty Dibble wanted to do something nice for her community.

So when she heard about the Climb to Conquer Cancer event in Casper last year, she decided to participate. Having participated in Climb events while living in Arizona, she knew hiking up a mountain would be an interesting way to contribute.

"It's a fun event," Dibble said. "It's a really great time."

She called the American Cancer Society to ask about volunteering. And before she knew it, she became the Climb's chairperson.

Dibble didn't have much experience with the disease she had volunteered to fight. Her grandmother survived colon cancer, "but it was just like she had surgery and it was over and everything was OK," Dibble said.

But in early June, less than a month before the event, Dibble's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.

"That's when it really hit home for me," Dibble said. "Cancer was in my family."

Dibble's mother will finish treatment in October, having been through lumpectomy surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

The upside, Dibble said, is that her mother, who is from Rawlins, has been staying with her family while receiving treatment in Casper.

"My daughter now thinks doctors make everything better," Dibble said, "because that's what my mom is telling her. 'The doctors are going to make me well,' she says."

Dibble's family plans to climb again this year. Last year, just three weeks after surgery, Dibble's mother made it all the way to the top (half on foot, half on four-wheeler), and her grandmother climbed as well.

This year's Climb to Conquer Cancer will start at 9 a.m. on June 28 at Muddy Mountain, and will consist of a 4-mile hike and a celebration. Dibble's family will climb again, and higher turnout for the event is expected.

The hike usually takes about two hours, and the party at the top of the mountain can last as long as climbers feel like celebrating.

"The nice thing about the climb is that it's a very upbeat event," Dibble said.

Sunblock, water, snacks and music will be provided at themed water stations along the way, and the party will feature food from Outback Steakhouse, a Schwan's truck full of ice cream, free soda, and music from local band Seeds and Stems.

And while Dibble can't climb because she'll be busy running the show, she hopes other community members will take her place.

"The more I've worked on the climb," Dibble said, "the more I've seen a need for us to do more for patients with cancer."

Contact reporter Megan Lee at (307) 266-0589 or megan.lee@trib.com

For more info

To participate or for more information, contact the American Cancer Society at (307) 235-0044.