Into the Summit
Into the Summit
for Mental Health and Wellness
Raising Money for the Treatment
of Occupational Stress Injury
The 2025 Event Raised Over $20,000!
About this Event
Our previous reaching the summit events have raised over $100,000 towards this cause, please help us make this event a success!
The Hamilton Gault Memorial Fund is again putting on an exciting adventure in support of mental health in our communities. Taking place on April 12, 2026, participants will descend into Rat’s Nest Cave near Canmore, Alberta. Doing so, these adventurers will raise vital funds for and awareness about post-traumatic stress disorder and its devastating effects on individuals and families.
An operational stress injury (OSI) is any ongoing psychological difficulty that has arisen from duties performed during service.
It can manifest as a range of health problems such as anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, substance use or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as well as other conditions that interfere with daily functioning.
There are many events that are part of the risk of serving in the military that can cause such injuries. An OSI can also affect others in the person's life, leading to marital and family problems, and can even produce physical symptoms such as stomach upset, headaches, and sleep problems, as well as chronic pain.
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Effective mental health treatment requires a holistic approach in order to have long term benefit. Programs that encompass various modalities and approaches to treatment are incorporated as an adjunct to traditional clinical practice.
Examples of programs that are effective in providing treatment are:
- Recreational and Outdoor Programs
- EMDR Therapies
- Bio feedback Programs
- Virtual Simulation
- Canine Therapy
- Equine Therapy
- Art Therapy
- Peer Support Programs
- Family Support Networks
- Trauma Sensitive Therapy Programs
- Transition Services Programs
2026 Into the Summit Fundraisers
The 2025 Event Raised Over $20,000!
Meet all of our incredible fundraising participants. You can track their progress live and make your donations right here with a credit card via paypal.
You will also receive a tax receipt from the Hamilton Gault Memorial Fund for any donation over $20 (sent to the address listed in your donation).
Please Note: Credit card payments are processed via PayPal but a PayPal account is not required.
2019 Participants
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Christian
Stenner -
Jeremy
Bruns -
Alexander
Gault -
Kathleen
Graham -
Todd
Martin -
Leah
Sutton -
Amelia
Johnston -
Nate
BlackmoreEnter Your Promo Code
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Andrew
Mullett -
Quinten
Peters
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Introduction
ON 12 APRIL 2026, OUR ADVENTURERS WILL DESCEND INTO GROTTO MOUNTAIN
Caves are dark, otherworldly environments. Most people have not had the experience of total darkness, moving through difficult terrain.
It’s an unfamiliar world. Like many of those who suffer from occupational stress injuries, they too have found themselves in an unfamiliar place, struggling to navigate the darkness.
Caves are one of the last unexplored frontiers of our planet. Just in 2018, the deepest cave in Canada was confirmed near Fernie, British Columbia.
The cave, named Bisaro Anima, honors Private Torindo Bisaro, a soldier of the Black Watch Regiment who was lost in World War II. The Bisaro Anima cave passages have been named with a military theme and after Battle Honors of the Black Watch.
Participants in Into the Summit for Mental Health will venture into Rat’s Nest Cave in the company of members of the Bisaro Anima cave exploration team.
Our participants are raising funds to participate in this adventure and experience this challenging environment. Each has committed to raising funds by taking pledges to support their participation.
Up to 32 participants will join Canmore Cave Tours on an Exclusive Cave Tour of Rat's Nest Cave. At over 4km long, Rat's Nest Cave is one of the longest caves in Canada and there are no lights, handrails or permanent lights. Exploring Rat's Nest Cave involves climbing, crawling, sliding, wiggling and squeezing through water-worn passages past ancient cave formations and bones. This is the Best Adventure IN the Rockies!
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How to Participate
How to Participate
Participation is pretty simple. All you have to do is fill out the form below and provide some basic information to get signed up. With this information we will add your campaign to the section above, and then your friends, family, coworkers and anyone else you can find will be able to donate to the fundraiser on your behalf.
You will be able to track your progress live so you can see how close you are to meeting your campaign goal. If you're feeling really confident you can even specify a higher goal than the recommended $1000.00.
Please note, everyone is welcome to participate as a fundraiser, but for safety reasons the minimum age to participate in the tour is 12 years
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Perks & Requirements
Perks & Requirements
Participants are asked to strive to raise a minimum of $1000.00 in the campaign. We know this is a big ask but it's for a very important cause.
Rest assured though that all of your fundraising hard work will pay off. Not only will you be helping someone who has been affected by OSI, you're going to join Canmore Cave Tours on an adventure of a lifetime.
On April 12th you will be heading underground on an Explorer Cave Tour of Rat's Nest Cave - one of the longest caves in Canada. Even better, the top 16 campaigns will have the opportunity to partake in the Adventure Tour - a 6-hour cave tour including a 16 story rappel.
Your cave tour will include professional guides and all necessary caving equipment. To participate in the cave tour you will need:
- Weather appropriate clothing and footwear.
- A moderate level of fitness
- To sign a liability release waiver
The minimum age to participate in the tour is 12 years
Find out more information about the different tours here.
As a participant in this event, you will also receive:
- An event t-shirt
- A special commemorative challenge coin
- Post event food & beverages
- Lots of kudos
More event details (i.e. start times, meeting place, etc.) will be shared as we get closer to the event.
The Hamilton Gault Memorial Fund (HGMF) is named after Brigadier Andrew Hamilton Gault, DSO, ED, CD, the founder of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI).
An independent charitable organization, the HGMF receives charitable and other donations, as well as income from interest and fundraising activities, and expends funds on charitable activities that support the heritage and history of the PPCLI through grants to the Regimental Museum and Archives and funding the maintenance of significant Regimental Memorials; offering student bursaries to members of the Regimental Family; supporting PPCLI affiliated Army Cadet Corps; and providing support to veterans and their families by promoting mental health and providing financial assistance with home modifications due to injuries or disabilities incurred during military service.
Into the Summit for Mental Health and Wellness 2026 is the 6th event in this series
Proudly Supported by:
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CCT
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ASS
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Canadian Cave Conservancy
We are looking for corporate partners as sponsors for this event. To find out more about sponsorship opportunities please contact
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