Join the Rippin Run

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By JohnPosted In: Charity Activity

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

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By JohnPosted In: Charity Activity

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

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By JohnPosted In: Charity Activity

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

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By JohnPosted In: Charity Activity

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

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By JohnPosted In: Charity Activity

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.

 

Walking for Mental Health Awareness

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By JohnPosted In: ChildFund International

Kev Carr is raising money and awareness about mental health issues. As a private in the Royal Logistics Corp and someone who served in Iraq in 2003, Carr was diagnosed with PTSD. He is heading out on a 1000 mile hike across America for the charity group Walking With The Wounded. He is leaving for the States now, along with two other other British and three American veterans as they walk from Los Angeles to New York.

The trek is actually being backed by Walking With The Wounded patron Prince Harry. To get a spot on the walking team, Mr. Carr had to pass through a strict selection process and an interview. He said,  “I have mixed emotions about the walk as this is one of the biggest things I have ever done and it means a lot to me.”

Biking to Make a Difference: Brennan Besser

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By JohnPosted In: ChildFund International

Starting on May 16 and ending 3400 miles later across the United States, Brennan Besser will be biking his way towards raising money. He is biking from Seattle to New York and hopes to hold basketball clinics along the way to raise a total of $1 million for the Walk On America Foundation.

As he explains, “What we’re hoping to do is shine a light on a part of the American community that doesn’t have that strong of a voice.”

Where did he get this idea? Besser’s older sister, Jacqueline, is nonverbal and impaired in her motor skills and communication. He wants others to understand ways to deal with adversity and he’s doing so by traveling, typically 60 miles a day with a team of 3-5 people.

Rapper Using His Talent to Raise Money

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By JohnPosted In: ChildFund International

Here is a lovely idea. In Lexington, Kentucky, a local rapper and activist, Devine Carama, is combining his talent, his teaching and his love of giving in a beautiful way. In order to teach students to create change through music, he joined with professor Bryan Hains to teach student to write rap. For their final exam, 21 students created a hip-hop EP that highlighted challenges under-deserved communities face. The album will benefit Operation Making A Change.

See here for more details.