Blood Cancer United launches annual climbing event
By Eva D. Coleman
Lifestyle & Culture Editor
Texas Metro News
“I climb because I’m a survivor,” Maurice Washington told the crowd assembled at Haynes Boone in Downtown Dallas on Dec. 3, 2025.
As a longtime leader, serving as a vice president for over 30 years at Bank of America, Washington was rallying the team… those who showed up in support of his Big Climb Dallas leadership. Chairing the Blood Cancer United (formerly known as The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) event is a task as tall as the Bank of America building in Dallas of which he worked for 20 years.
“Just having the opportunity to chair the event is definitely a blessing,” Washington said.
He shared that he’s participated in Big Climb Dallas since 2020, including virtually during the pandemic.
As a proud 30+ year member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated®, initiated in the Theta Mu chapter on the campus of Sam Houston State University, and having served as president of the Nu Pi Lambda chapter in Arlington, Texas, service and community events to benefit mankind are in Washington’s blood.
Something else that was in his blood makes the mission of Blood Cancer United and the Big Climb Dallas event deeply personal.
“I am involved because I’m also a survivor of Hairy Cell Leukemia,” Washington said. “This is an outlet for me to be able to give back, giving me an opportunity to share my story as well as to give back to those who are also unfortunately going through this.”
The origin of Big Climb Dallas dates back to 2008.
“We have about 15 different sites across the country,” Blood Cancer United Executive Director Leah Swanson said. “Big Climb Dallas is one of the oldest.”
Getting others to step up is the goal. Tackling 69 floors at one of Dallas’ most iconic buildings is cause for celebration.
“The climb will take place on March 28th, and that’s a Saturday morning,” Washington said. “It usually starts around 7, 8 o’clock in the morning and ends at about 12 or 1. March 28, 2026, Bank America Plaza, Downtown Dallas.”
Joseph Amyson was attentive and all smiles during the launch event. He has risen to the occasion before, for the first time in 2023. For him, the experience is both thrilling and nostalgic.
“I did it on my own because I have a fascination for tall buildings and towers and so, I saw it and I was like, ‘I gotta do this,’” Amyson said. “I had a family member who worked at the Bank of America building back in the 90s. She worked on the 56th floor and we got to look down and it was ‘Oh my gosh!’ You can look down and see the amazing and immaculate views.”
Whether climbing solo or as a team, there’s something for everyone at each level.
“Big Climb…it is a big tower, but it’s not as scary as people think,” Swanson said. “Most people do not train, but it’s just a really fun event. People come out and they get dressed up, they’re there with a team. We have the firefighters that start off in the morning and they go up in full gear. It’s always fun to watch them. Teams are always very unique and creative.”
While Amyson shared his excitement in climbing for the thrill of it, as a parent of a son with Sickle Cell Anemia, he shared his gratitude for Blood Cancer United and the purposeful steps people take to fundraise and support families.
“You have a bunch of people who are working in the lab, dedicating their lives to this, dedicating their careers to this,” Amyson said. “So, they need every dollar in funding, especially in this environment, they need as much in dollars as possible so that they can continue doing this research so they can have cures for this…so we don’t have to worry about this anymore, so they can eradicate this.”
As an organization with a long history and multitude of events to raise funds to support research and aid families, a name change that commenced in September 2025 seemed necessary to expand their reach.
“We’ve been around for about 76 years,” Swanson said. “We’re formerly known as Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. We recently changed our name to be more inclusive of all blood cancers.”
Swanson stated that there are “about a hundred different types of blood cancer.” Becoming Blood Cancer United was an intentional decision to educate the public and connect those who need the resources.
“We’re so excited about this change because there’s a lot of blood cancer patients that were not finding us,” Swanson said. “A lot of people don’t realize that leukemia and lymphoma or multiple myeloma are a blood cancer. So I really believe that this name change is going to help us to reach more patients.”
If it’s baby steps or giant leaps, numerous families depend on the financial assistance, free nutrition services, peer mentor support and more that Blood Cancer United provides.
Swanson shared that Big Climb Dallas is an organized effort in which climbers go up in waves, so not all at once, and that it takes on average about 30 minutes. Monumental themes occur on the way to the top.
“On the ninth floor, it’s a silent floor, in memory of people on that floor,” Swanson said. “But all the other floors are music and fun, and at the top, once you’ve climbed those 69 floors, you’re able to celebrate at the top with a big party.”
Amyson is ready to race to the top, and against anyone.
“I love to compete so why not compete for a good cause. Be inspired by me climbing faster than you, okay!”
Event Chair Washington sees the collective good in the effort of Big Climb Dallas.
“You may have someone in your family, you may have a coworker, you may have a friend or family member that has blood cancer and so it’s just an opportunity for you to assist them,” Washington said.
Over the past five years of his involvement, Washington shared that he’s personally raised about $24,000 for the climb.
“The money that has been raised has now cleared the way to have cancer removed,” he said. “For anyone that wants to see that happen, this is an opportunity for you on whatever level to come out and do the climb.”
Blazing a pathway of serving others throughout organizational commitments, it’s fitting that Big Climb Dallas’ date of March 28, 2026 also serves at the 35th anniversary of Washington becoming a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated®. It’s a testament of his worlds colliding as a blood cancer survivor and servant, leading the charge for others to get involved.
To support Maurice Washington’s Big Climb Dallas team, please visit:
https://pages.lls.org/bigclimb/ntx/bigclimbdallas26/MoWashStrong2026
For information on Blood Cancer United, visit:
https://bloodcancerunited.org
