This website and the WindSong foundation is a grassroots effort by Stacey's friends to funnel the outpouring of support from the community and to ensure that she can concentrate on staying healthy.
Stacey was too shy to be interviewed for this article, so we, her friends, have banded our knowledge to create a virtual interview.
(All facts and opinions have been verified by Stacey)

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(WS) Where were you born?
(Stacey) I am from Taiwan, where I was adopted by an American and moved to the United States to live at eight months old. "WindSong" is a translation of my Chinese birth name.

(WS) What are your hobbies?
(Stacey) I enjoyed many sports as a child. As a youth, I was very determined. By sixteen, I was the youngest member of the Wisconsin U-19 Women's Olympic Development Soccer team. I was also the captain of my high school gymnastics team. Now, when I am not climbing I enjoy reading Taoist philosophy, nature photography, drawing and calligraphy.

(WS) Wow. That's impressive!
Stacey) Thanks! I still love soccer, but I sure got knocked around a lot in competitive soccer. My high school didn't have a girl's team, so I played on the boy's squad, which was really tough because it is a contact sport and I accidentally got knocked down a lot (Since people always ask, I am 4'10" and weigh 85 pounds.)

Outside of sports and art, I also find satisfaction in working for various causes. I earned a degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin in 1994. During college and immediately after that, I volunteered for many non-profit organizations.

Before my illness, I had been completing long bike rides as fundraisers for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Two years ago, I rode my bike from my home in Palo Alto to the MS Bike Tour in Redwood City, rode the entire 65-mile tour, and then rode home! I hope to get well enough to repeat this stunt with some friends in the future.

(WS) What got you to California?
(Stacey) I originally moved to the Bay Area after graduation to find a job in the non-profit sector, but fell in love with coaching gymnastics at Twisters Gym. I love coaching, especially with children, because they are so enthusiastic and adorable.

(WS) I thought you were a rock climbing coach?
(Stacey) Twisters Gym is an integrated facility which includes gymnastics, rhyhmic gymnastics, Tae Kwon Do, and rock climbing. The first year of working at Twisters, climbing was something that I did for fun, as well as for strength and balance training. The next year, I was asked to coach and manage the Rock Climbing Program at Twisters. This was six years ago. The rest is history!

(WS) Why did you start sheclimbs?
(Stacey) Working at the gym I noticed that in general, many women learned to climb from their boyfriends and other male friends. I sought to create a club where more women could climb with each other and take leadership roles. I discovered sheclimbs, inc. the largest women's climbing organization in the U.S. and Canada.

I started a local chapter, and it snowballed. Women were so enthusiastic! We grew to over 50 paid members, as well as a community of over two hundred women corresponding with each other through the mailing list. I was eventually elected vice president, and then president of the national organization. To focus on my health and because air travel affects my lung disease, I have decided to step-down from the national presidency of sheclimbs, but I still enjoy being the local San Francisco Bay Area Coordinator.

(WS) By the way, Happy Birthday! I see that you just celebrated your birthday on October 7th?
(Stacey) Yes, there was a huge birthday party at Twisters. That night, even though I am on full-time supplemental oxygen, I did 40 pull-ups to the cheers of my friends. I am trying to encourage women to be strong and set goals. If I can do it, anybody can!