I came back from despair twice. She was diagnosed as having cancer in 1976 and had an operation on her breast. The cancer was found to have spread soon afterwards but was gone eight years later. J iro Itami, a doctor in Kurashiki, western Japan, and one of the climb's main organizers, believes having something to live for help patients fight cancer. It doesn't have to be mountain climbing.
Participants pose for a commemorative photo at the summit of Mount Fuji.
Everyone trained hard for this special day.