Why I Climb

Thanks to all my supporters who helped make my climb up Kilimanjaro to fight cancer a reality. Right now, my online fundraising total reads, “$9.934.41,” and there’s a $100 check in the mail that’s going to be a part of that total soon. I can’t wait for the online total to update and reflect this amazing milestone. We made it; I can’t believe it! THANK YOU again to everyone!

With over 100 different donations, this has truly been a grassroots effort. Donations to this cause will support cancer programs and services at LIVESTRONG. At the same time, this constant outpouring of generosity has also helped me meet the $10,000 fundraising requirement to participate in the climb.

I remember from my Texas 4000 ride how often I thought of my supporters. I’d think about their words of encouragement and stories about loved ones who had fought cancer, and all those memories helped make riding through terrible heat, crosswinds, and cold worth it. I’ll be sure to think of all my supporters and their stories when I begin the 38 mile trek to head 19,341 high in altitude. I still can’t believe that it’s so soon; I leave June 23 on a plane bound for Tanzania, and the official summit day is July 2. I hope I make it to the top, so I can honor everyone.

Thanks for helping to make the lives of cancer fighters and survivors a little easier through access to LIVESTRONG’s premiere programs and services. Today, I climb for everyone who has supported this charitable endeavor.

And just so you know: because you all will be in my mind, you’ll be making the trek up the mountain with me, too. I can’t wait to have all of you with me at the top :)

$28 for 28 (Million), for My 28th Birthday

My 28th birthday is coming up in a few weeks, and you’d better believe that it would make me so happy to complete my $10,000 fundraising goal for cancer programs and services at LIVESTRONG. The only gifts I’m thinking about to mark this special day are donations to support this cause.

In honor of my upcoming birthday, please consider donating $28 for the 28 million people around the world living with cancer today. Your gift helps me get closer to the minimum amount required to do my charity climb. And more importantly: your donation also helps fighters and survivors take serious action against cancer.

I can’t wait to climb Kilimanjaro to honor new and old friends, family, and loved ones who have faced this disease with courage, strength, and hope. Help me meet the minimum fundraising requirement with plenty of time to spare before I leave for Africa!

Thanks!

Six Weeks Until a Big Adventure for a Great Cause

Only six weeks left until I take off for Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro! I’ve bought my plane tickets, my immunizations are done, almost all my gear has arrived, and most importantly, my $10,000 minimum fundraising requirement for cancer programs and services at LIVESTRONG is in sight.

The next high priority items on my long list of things to do before I leave are: keep training; break in my hiking boots; fill my malaria and altitude sickness medications at the pharmacy; and make sure I have photos to process my Tanzanian visa when I arrive at JRO.

Needless to say, these last few weeks are going to fly by, and I’ll be standing on African soil soon! If you want to help me cross “fundraising” off my to do list, click “donate” on the right side of my blog, or visit my personal fundraising page.

Less than 45 Days Left!

Every day, I’m getting closer to climbing Kilimanjaro to raise money for cancer programs and services at LIVESTRONG. Since losing my grandmother, college mentor, and uncle—and watching so many people take on this disease—I feel like the least I can do is try to make the lives of survivors a little easier by going on this adventure.

Last night, I was fortunate enough to hold an event and raise some more money for this cause. But the deadline for my fundraising goal is coming up and I still need to finish what I started back on January 15. So please donate in honor or memory of a loved one, and I’ll be honored to climb for them. With less than 45 days to go, your support would mean a lot to me!

Come out to My Event Tonight to Fight Cancer

Come join me tonight at 7:00 p.m. at a party to celebrate the completion of my 200th beer at the Flying Saucer (in The Triangle at 815 West 47th Street Austin, Texas). In addition to hanging out with yours truly, you’ll also get a chance to partake in my $100 bar tab until it runs out. I will only indulge in one tasty craft beer, so I need some help from a lot of friends to finish my tab!

When I’m officially recognized in the “Ring of Honor” for tasting 200 beers over the past two and half years, I’ll be asking patrons of the bar to support my Kilimanjaro charity climb with Survivor Summit to fight cancer, which benefits programs and services at LIVESTRONG. 

If you can’t make it out, but want to help, you can still donate online. With almost less than $1,500 to until I reach my fundraising goal, any amount helps. Thanks to everyone for the support so far, and cheers to raising money, awareness, and hope in the fight against cancer.

Less than $25 a Day

I’m at $8,393.41—which is $1,606.59 away from my $10,000 fundraising minimum requirement to climb Kilimanjaro, which I’m doing to support cancer programs and services at LIVESTRONG.

With only 66 days left, that works out to less than $25 a day that needs to be fundraised between now and the climb. Please help me reach my goal early and donate to a really great cause!

To Do List

• Get immunizations for Tanzania. Yellow fever, Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, and Polio got nothing on my new pink camouflage bandaids. (Seriously, though: how lucky are Americans that we can walk into a doctor’s office, get a shot in the arm, and dramatically lower the risk of/prevent deadly diseases?)
  
• Buy plane tickets from AUS to JRO. I’m sure there will be a lot of transfers to get to the other side of the world.
  
• Find something epic to read for 920304+ hour plane ride.
• Meet my $10,000 minimum fundraising goal! Less than $2,000 to go.
• Run and train. A lot.
• Continue to be inspired by the stories I’ve heard and people I’ve met getting ready for this climb. 
• LIVESTRONG.

Look at How Far We’ve Come

Coming up on less than $2,500 to go before I hit the minimum fundraising goal of $10,000! Don’t get me wrong: $2,500 is still a lot of money. But think of how far we’ve come; on January 15—a mere three months ago—I embarked on this crazy goal of climbing Kilimanjaro to fight cancer. And now, I’m more than three quarters of the way there, thanks to all the great support I’ve been fortunate enough to receive from friends and family.

It’s now April, and I’ll be heading to Tanzania in late June to make my summit attempt.

Speaking of April, did you get a little money back on your tax return? Want to make a small tax-exempt donation that you can claim for 2012?

Then please donate, and help me raise money for cancer programs and services at LIVESTRONG!