This is a beautiful idea. Take a look at the thrift shop that helps to fight cancer.
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.
How Americans Are Giving
This is a fascinating article about the widening gap between rich and poor…and how much charity they give. It also shows interesting trends about Millenials, cryptocurrency donations and more. Check out the article and see what you think.
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.
Walking for Mental Health Awareness
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
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
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.
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!
Charity Events for New Movie about Heroism
A new, beautiful film is hitting the market and is well worth the time – as is the charity event happening in its honor. Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero is coming to theaters on April 13th and is based on the true story of a soldier and a stray dog that form a bond. The computer-animated feature offers a charming look at what it means to be a hero.
There are a number of great charity events happening around the film including a fundraising event to benefit Variety the Children’s Charity of Southern California and the Boys and Girls Club of Boyle Heights. It will take place on Tuesday, March 27 at the Regal L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles. On March 28, Fun Academy and Variety the Children’s Charity will co-host screenings in another 14 cities across the United States and Canada.
As Richard Lanni, director of Sgt. Stubby and founder of Fun Academy, said
“We are delighted to partner with Variety the Children’s Charity to host the world premiere screening and multi-city tour of Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero. We are excited to host 500 children and their families from organizations supported by Variety SoCal, including the Variety Boys and Girls Club of Boyle Heights, at our world premiere to enjoy this dog’s eye view of American history that kids will love, parents and educators will appreciate, and all ages can enjoy together.”