Hi, I’m Bill Anderson, and I'm reaching out to you with a heartfelt mission. I’ve spent a couple of decades racing -doing adventure races, runs, and even a triathlon or two. I am stepping out there and trying to give back in a small way to the Alzheimer’s Association. I’ve seen first hand the ravages of this disease to both the affected individual and the families. My grandmother fought it the entire time that I knew her. And recently, the adventure racing tribe lost an amazing world-class racer, Mark Macy, to the disease. He was a neighbor of mine and had been source of inspiration to me for years. I deeply regret not taking the time to get to know him better, but I feel that we both shared the same passion for challenging ourselves in the wilderness and encouraging others along the way. His unwavering smiles, encouragement, and tenacity while racing were incredible.

My goal is to honor Mace’s memory and try to help a worthy cause at the same time. I’ve decided to tackle the Barkley Fall Classic on September 19th. It is a 50km race in the hills of Tennessee that only about 25% of entrants actually finish. Exactly a year ago from the start of this year’s race I got myself into a car accident on a highway in Eastern Europe that easily could’ve resulted in the loss of my left foot or worse. Since then I have been working diligently to become a better version of myself and not take things for granted. I am intentionally working to improve my physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of my life. This effort is part of that journey. I also want to give back to others where I can and challenge myself in the process. It will probably be one of the more demanding races I’ve done.

I am asking friends, family, co-workers, and complete strangers to help me stay motivated. Ideally it would be great to have people pledge an amount for every kilometer I am able to knock out and/or for every vertical foot that I climb during the race (>10,000ft on average for this race). I would also welcome an additional donation for actually finishing the entire race. The pledges of contributions to this cause will add to my motivation to complete this beast of a race.

100% of funds raised will go directly to the Alzheimer’s Association. They are dedicated to creating a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. Together, we can make a significant impact in the fight against this devastating disease. Your generous donations will support crucial initiatives like: •Accelerating global research to find effective treatments and a cure. •Providing essential care and support for families affected by dementia. Every contribution helps propel this vital work forward. Your support can change lives and help us achieve a future free of Alzheimer’s. I will post my results here after the race. For now, pledges of support would be great.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity!

 As Mace would say: “Don’t quit!”