Running for Rotary
Spende geschützt
A few months back the thought "Hey Travis, you should run a half-marathon, take donations, and put the money towards a good cause!" ran through my head. Not really thinking it through, I signed up. The first place that came to mind was my favorite place on this wonderful planet; the Akron Rotary Camp. Akron Rotary Camp is a camp for children and adults with disabilities. This is a place where both campers and counselors alike get to escape, be themselves, develop relationships, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
For me this turned from a one summer job that I wasn't sure about into what is about to be my third summer and a place I can't imagine leaving:.ever. Heading into my junior year of college I broke my leg and had to drop my internship I had set up leaving me jobless. One of my best friends told me about an opening at a camp he worked at and bam three days later I was at staff training for my summer job as a day camp counselor. I instantly fell in love with the counselors and camp in general. As a kid I never attended any camps because my life revolved around sports. I found out very quickly that Rotary Camp was a place where I could be myself and people would accept me for who I was; a little kid stuck in a larger kid's body. The best summer of my life ended and thought I would never come back because I would have to get an internship for my degree. I found a winter internship through connections I had made at camp which just happened to free up my summer. I decided to work a winter respite (overnight weekend) and realized that I caught the most lethal of bugs; the camp bug. Right there on the spot I committed myself for what was to be another great summer. I got what I expected and more during camp this past summer. I found myself in a leadership role, much more open than the previous summer, and built upon and created new relationships that will hopefully last for many years to come.
My story doesn't stop there. I recently was accepted to graduate school which, by the grace of God, opened up another summer for me. As soon as I found out the news I called the camp director and told him I was in. Since I no longer have athletic commitments I get to do something I have been waiting to do for a long time; go to overnight camp. You are reading the first public statement that I am making about this. Before releasing this I only told my parents and my boss. SURPRISE REX LAKE!!!! YOU'RE MINE FOR THE SUMMER
As for the half marathon, it takes place on April 27th. Over the past three months I have told myself tomorrow will be the day I start training. Last week (week of March 16th), it finally happened and let me tell you it wasn't pretty. Regardless of how I feel I will be running this half-marathon not for myself but for the campers. Running this will probably result in me not moving for a week and walking funny across the stage for my graduation. There will be cramps. There will be sweat. Actually there will be an ungodly gross amount of sweat. There will be shin splints. There will be pain that will result in my ultimately crying and crawling across the finish line two or three hours after the race is over. In the end, seeing a smile on the kid's faces are all that really matter to me.
This is where you, yes you reading this, come in. A week of overnight camp cost $575. My goal is to raise money for 3 kids to attend camp for a week during this upcoming summer. If my math is correct that is a grand total of $1725. To this in perspective this is equivalent to 271 burritos from Chipotle, 345 pizzas from Little Ceasars, or 5-6 coffees from Starbucks. I thought it would pretty neat if donations were $13 (number of miles in a half-marathon). If this were the case around 133 people would need to donate. Any contribution is greatly appreciated!!! 100% of proceeds will go towards the Akron Rotary Camp.
Here are some incentives that I am willing to throw out there to draw in some money:
1. For every $250 donated I will donate an additional $10
2. $575 = shaving my arms and legs
3. At $1000 a banner is earned. This WILL NOT have my name on it, but rather something that the kids will think is awesome.
4. $1150 = Campers during the first week get to design a haircut and color for me. I'm kind of attached to my hair, but it's for the kids.
5. $1725 = My final paycheck will go back to camp
For me this turned from a one summer job that I wasn't sure about into what is about to be my third summer and a place I can't imagine leaving:.ever. Heading into my junior year of college I broke my leg and had to drop my internship I had set up leaving me jobless. One of my best friends told me about an opening at a camp he worked at and bam three days later I was at staff training for my summer job as a day camp counselor. I instantly fell in love with the counselors and camp in general. As a kid I never attended any camps because my life revolved around sports. I found out very quickly that Rotary Camp was a place where I could be myself and people would accept me for who I was; a little kid stuck in a larger kid's body. The best summer of my life ended and thought I would never come back because I would have to get an internship for my degree. I found a winter internship through connections I had made at camp which just happened to free up my summer. I decided to work a winter respite (overnight weekend) and realized that I caught the most lethal of bugs; the camp bug. Right there on the spot I committed myself for what was to be another great summer. I got what I expected and more during camp this past summer. I found myself in a leadership role, much more open than the previous summer, and built upon and created new relationships that will hopefully last for many years to come.
My story doesn't stop there. I recently was accepted to graduate school which, by the grace of God, opened up another summer for me. As soon as I found out the news I called the camp director and told him I was in. Since I no longer have athletic commitments I get to do something I have been waiting to do for a long time; go to overnight camp. You are reading the first public statement that I am making about this. Before releasing this I only told my parents and my boss. SURPRISE REX LAKE!!!! YOU'RE MINE FOR THE SUMMER
As for the half marathon, it takes place on April 27th. Over the past three months I have told myself tomorrow will be the day I start training. Last week (week of March 16th), it finally happened and let me tell you it wasn't pretty. Regardless of how I feel I will be running this half-marathon not for myself but for the campers. Running this will probably result in me not moving for a week and walking funny across the stage for my graduation. There will be cramps. There will be sweat. Actually there will be an ungodly gross amount of sweat. There will be shin splints. There will be pain that will result in my ultimately crying and crawling across the finish line two or three hours after the race is over. In the end, seeing a smile on the kid's faces are all that really matter to me.
This is where you, yes you reading this, come in. A week of overnight camp cost $575. My goal is to raise money for 3 kids to attend camp for a week during this upcoming summer. If my math is correct that is a grand total of $1725. To this in perspective this is equivalent to 271 burritos from Chipotle, 345 pizzas from Little Ceasars, or 5-6 coffees from Starbucks. I thought it would pretty neat if donations were $13 (number of miles in a half-marathon). If this were the case around 133 people would need to donate. Any contribution is greatly appreciated!!! 100% of proceeds will go towards the Akron Rotary Camp.
Here are some incentives that I am willing to throw out there to draw in some money:
1. For every $250 donated I will donate an additional $10
2. $575 = shaving my arms and legs
3. At $1000 a banner is earned. This WILL NOT have my name on it, but rather something that the kids will think is awesome.
4. $1150 = Campers during the first week get to design a haircut and color for me. I'm kind of attached to my hair, but it's for the kids.
5. $1725 = My final paycheck will go back to camp
Organisator
Travis Howe
Organisator
Akron, OH
