AFCA Teams up with SIDS to Educate

The American Football Coaches Association has chosen its charity of the year – and it’s the American Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Institute. Their goal this year will be to bring awareness of sudden infant death syndrome to their members. They will work with coaches around the country to promote safe infant sleep patters such as sleeping on the back in an uncluttered environment.

Certainly, with their large reach and their resources they can have an impact on the rate of SIDS and on helping to prevent these tragedies.

Yummy Gets Ready to Launch

This is a story and a product worth following.

Fatima Nasser is a 21 year old living in Libya who has created a food deliver app called Yummy. The app should be launching soon in Benghzazi and Tripoli. Yummy is part of a national movement to try to get more entrepreneurs in the war-torn area and to try to move away from oil for the Libyan economy.

There are many potential issues with their plan in country plagued by so many difficulties. But they are hoping to make it work. Learn more about Yummy and how they are trying to make a difference for women in Libya and for entrepreneurs.

Making Hope Happen Through Baseball

For those who live in the San Bernardino area, this is a charity event worth enjoying. The Making Hope Happen Foundation is having a charity night on August 27th that includes baseball and philanthropy. The Making Hope Happen Foundation focuses on serving the San Bernardino City Unified School District. Tickets, that were originally $12 will now be $5 and all proceeds will go to the charity.

As Alex Groh, Assistant General Manager of the IE 66ers said,

“I strongly feel that this type of local, community interaction and education is unmatched. The beauty of minor league baseball is the community and fan base that surround each team. Without the loyal support of its community, no minor league baseball organization would exist. I’m fortunate that our stadium has the ability to host charity evenings because it’s a great way to showcase a wonderful organization like the Making Hope Happen Foundation.”

 

Join the Rippin Run

If you live near the Rippavilla Plantation in Tennessee, then you’ll want to know about the third annual Rippin Run on Saturday, August 4th. This charity event will benefit both the American Cancer Society and the Rippavilla Plantation. The 5k obstacle course started at 8 in the morning and the one mile Fun Run will be at 9. As Corrine Tomlinson, the President of Rippavilla Inc. explains

“The first year, we had over 100, last year we doubled that so we hope to grow this every year. It does benefit the American Cancer Society and Rippavilla for us here. It’s so much fun. We have them from age three up to 70 years old. The first year, a very elderly lady was saying, ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this.’ She started off like she was going to fuss about it. She was going through the mud pit. I said, ‘Have you had this much fun in a long time?’ She just started laughing. She was having a blast.”

And don’t worry – you’ll get muddy while raising money for charity. The 5K is a mud run and the grand finale will have a water slide into a huge mud pit.

 

The Mini Hits Ashland, Oregon

If you were recently in Ashland, Oregon you might have the impression that everyone owns a Mini. But this wouldn’t be quite accurate. Rather, Mini Coopers flooded the city as part of a yearly festival that also raises money for those in need.

MINI USA puts the rally together each year with this year’s rally called “Rise and Rally.” It brought 600 Minis together to Oregon as they head to their meet-up in Colorado. They’ve been doing this for 14 years in what they call the Mini Takes The States event.

This year, they are repeating a charity they used in 2016, Feeding America. In 2016, they sent 1.3 million meals to Feeding America and this year they are hoping for 2 million.

Cycling For Liver Charity

Here’s a story worth sharing. Tom Brading, 23, is going to be pedaling across the UK to raise money for the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation. He hopes to raise £3,000 for the charity, which affects his 22 year old girlfriend, Cozette. She underwent a life-saving transplant when she was two and was supported through it by the charity.

As Tom explained: ‘I know that the charity provided invaluable support to Cozette and her family at a really difficult time. ‘Without the fundraising and support which they gave, things could have gone very differently. ‘I am so lucky to have met her and this might not have been possible if it wasn’t for the work that Children’s Liver Disease Foundation do.’

Now, Tom and two of his friends will be cycling 900 miles in 14 days. As Chief executive of Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, Alison Taylor, said: ‘We rely almost entirely on voluntary donations, so we are delighted to hear about Tom’s cycling challenge. ‘He has set himself a tough target, both in terms of the physical effort and his fundraising, and we wish him all the best. ‘I’ve no doubt it will be a memorable experience and the funds he raises will enable us to continue to make a real difference.’

Make Waves to Fight Cancer with Swim Across America

There are so many charity organizations and they are all worthwhile to know about and to support. One such organization is called Swim Across America and their goal is to create swim events to raise money for cancer research. It costs about $50,000 to $100,000 to operate a safe and fun swim experience. After those expenses, they award 70-85% of the gross revenue from the swim as a grant to research, clinical trials and other purposes.

Right now in Colorado, for instance, they are having an open-water clinic coached by former Olympic bronze medalist Susan Williams. It will take place in Chatfield Gravel Ponds in Littleton, Colorado.

Learn more about this event and the organization behind these types of charity events.

A Unique Experience with the Veterans Charity Ride

If you don’t yet know about the Veterans Charity Ride, it’s a nonprofit that’s worth hearing about. They use motorcycle therapy and other life changing programs to help veterans to have uplifting and healing experiences. As they explain on their website,

“We provide our veterans with Indian Motorcycles, custom built Champion Sidecars and Trikes, to ride through the most beautiful scenic backroads of this great country, exploring America, getting our veterans outdoors, back into the environment, and connecting veterans with Mentors and other veterans, groups and supporters.”

Each year, they take wounded and amputee veterans on Indian Motorcycles to the Sturgis Bike Rally in South Dakota. In 2015, they had eight veterans who made the trip and in 2016-2017 they expanded to include twenty veterans and more sidecars. Now, the 2018 ride to Sturgis will take more veterans on an eight day ride on America’s backroads and highways. Once in Sturgis, they will spend the week of the rally riding the Black Hills, going to events and giving the veterans special attention and experiences.

 

CrossFit Event in Memory of Travis Manion

Just a few days ago, athletes around the country got together to remember Iraq War hero Travis Manion. Manion died 11 years ago and this week over 50 American CrossFit gyms hosted a Workout of the Day that was made in his honor. CrossFit actually has a number of workouts dedicated in memory of soldiers who have died in the line of duty. In order to qualify, the soldier has to have participated in CrossFit prior to their death.

As Manion’s sister explained to MensHealth.com, “This WOD was very deliberate in the way it was put together. “My brother was a wrester at the Naval Academy and had very strong legs, so this WOD is all dedicated to legs.”

Manion was on his second tour of Iraq when he was killed by enemy sniper fire while helping injured troops during a search of an insurgent house.

The fundraiser was put on by the Travis Manion Foundation and CrossFit. All proceeds from the $29 registration fee are supporting the Travis Manion Foundation.

The Flash Runs Across America to Raise Money

If you haven’t heard about Jamie McDonald, you’ll find your day enhanced from knowing more about him. This 31 year old UK native was born with a rare spinal condition called syringomyelia. For his first nine years, he was in and out of the hospital and eventually managed to get to a better place with his health. As a result, he vowed to give back to the hospitals that had supported him.

His first task was to run 5000 miles from coast to coast across Canada…dressed as the superhero Flash. Now, he’s raising money for charities and hospitals in the States by running from the West Coast to the East. His charity is called Superhero Foundation and he has a book called Adventureman: Anyone Can Be a Superhero.

His goals are to raise money for those in need and to encourage people to find the superhero inside themselves. All of his donations will go to his Superhero Foundation and he has set his sights on raising $1 million. Join him in his adventure!