In September 2020, the Pacific Northwest was blanketed with extremely hazardous air from wildfires that kept everybody indoors for 8 days. As an avid trail runner and lover of the outdoors, these days stuck inside made me feel depressed. All I wanted to do was go outside and run amongst the trees.
A few days into quarantine, I felt the Lord soften my heart & give me perspective about my situation. Instead of being unable to run for 1 week, what if this was my life? What if I was physically disabled & didn't have the abilities to get outside & explore all of nature's beauties that I love so much? These what ifs turned into "how can I love & help others who are physically less fortunate than me?"
As many of you know, I love running long distances & fundraising for a cause. It gives all of those training miles so much more meaning when I'm running to help better the lives of other people & share love. Last year it was 65 miles for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, now I'm striving to run 100 miles for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation (CPF).
I chose the Cerebral Palsy Foundation because they are transforming lives for people with cerebral palsy through research, innovation and collaboration. It breaks my heart how many people live with CP & how it greatly affects children. CP is a permanent condition with no known cure & it is the most common physical disability in children. I'd like to use the physical gifts God has given to run long distances to contribute to a cure and help improve the lives of those living with CP.
I've set a huge goal of $25,000 & I believe we can achieve this goal together! Just like training for a 100 mile run, my goal is to slowly chip away at this $25,000 one day at a time. My plan is to run my own 100 mile course on the beautiful trails of Central Oregon this July (date is TBD due to snow levels on higher elevation trails). I have a gorgeous route in mind & know I have an incredible crew of family & friends who will support me 110% of the way on this big dream of mine.
Regardless of if you donate or not, I am excited to invite you on this ultrarunning/fundraising journey with me to help cure CP. Let's move forward together & see all the good and hope we can create for our friends struggling with CP!
Thank you for reading & for your support... more updates to come!
Best,
Mark Stockamp
A few days into quarantine, I felt the Lord soften my heart & give me perspective about my situation. Instead of being unable to run for 1 week, what if this was my life? What if I was physically disabled & didn't have the abilities to get outside & explore all of nature's beauties that I love so much? These what ifs turned into "how can I love & help others who are physically less fortunate than me?"
As many of you know, I love running long distances & fundraising for a cause. It gives all of those training miles so much more meaning when I'm running to help better the lives of other people & share love. Last year it was 65 miles for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, now I'm striving to run 100 miles for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation (CPF).
I chose the Cerebral Palsy Foundation because they are transforming lives for people with cerebral palsy through research, innovation and collaboration. It breaks my heart how many people live with CP & how it greatly affects children. CP is a permanent condition with no known cure & it is the most common physical disability in children. I'd like to use the physical gifts God has given to run long distances to contribute to a cure and help improve the lives of those living with CP.
I've set a huge goal of $25,000 & I believe we can achieve this goal together! Just like training for a 100 mile run, my goal is to slowly chip away at this $25,000 one day at a time. My plan is to run my own 100 mile course on the beautiful trails of Central Oregon this July (date is TBD due to snow levels on higher elevation trails). I have a gorgeous route in mind & know I have an incredible crew of family & friends who will support me 110% of the way on this big dream of mine.
Regardless of if you donate or not, I am excited to invite you on this ultrarunning/fundraising journey with me to help cure CP. Let's move forward together & see all the good and hope we can create for our friends struggling with CP!
Thank you for reading & for your support... more updates to come!
Best,
Mark Stockamp
Organizer
Cerebral Palsy Foundation
Beneficiary