The amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) steams within sight of Mt. Fuji. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Heidi McCormick.

MT. FUJI, JAPAN -- Three Yokosuka, Japan-based sailors and one civilian climbed Japan’s tallest mountain, Mt. Fuji, four times in 24 hours on Sept. 1 to raise money for charity.

The four climbers were Lt. Doug Szwarc and Lt. Justin Hoff, assigned to Commander, Submarine Group (SUBGRU) 7; Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW/AW) Mike Raney of Fleet Public Affairs Center, Detachment Japan; and Luke Nelson of Yokosuka’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation sports. They scaled up and down Mt. Fuji in 21 hours and 59 minutes, well below their goal.

The event, Fuji for Charity, raised more than $10,000 for the Shunkou Gakuen Orphanage in Yokosuka, Japan, and for South Carolina’s Guardian Ad Litem Program for abused and neglected kids.

Szwarc, organizer of Fuji for Charity, said that much of the money raised was donated through the Web site created by Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Adam Jones of SUBGRU 7, who spent much of his off-duty time building and updating the site.

The team also included a fifth climber, Lt. Robert Lovern, a medical officer assigned to SUBGRU 7. Lovern accomplished three climbs but was unable to complete the fourth climb because of physical limitations.

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