Thanks to you

So as you all know by now, OM is in the middle of our huge March Madness event to raise as much money as possible in March through all sorts of creative activities. We've got a big Adventure Race, a couch potato-thon, a mustache growing event, the list goes on. Jill and I talked over and over about what we wanted to do. We tossed around the idea of running a marathon but decided that it might be a tad ambitious given the fact that we were both averaging about a mile a day. We decided a 5K might be a better place to start!

Next, we had to decide which 5K to run. Being the procrastinators that we are, we waited until about April 31st to get on the computer and really search one out. By this time our options were slightly limited. Out of the 5 available in March, we could both attend 2 of them. There was one that started at a bar and ran around the side streets of Denver, and then there was the "Stop TB" Trot. Although the bar run had its own unique advantages, we collaboratively decided that running for a good cause was more important to us. We also figured out that although Tuberculosis is mainly a disease of the lungs, it can also have strong impacts on the BRAIN as well. We were thrilled to figure this out and obviously excited about finally making a decision about our March Madness event.

Throughout the entire process of trying to find an event and then raise money for OM through these March Madness events, the best thing for me has definitely been receiving the feedback and support from so many people. I mean, the grueling training has been great too, but the enormous amount of people who have come out and shown their interest in OM has definitely been the best. I am constantly overwhelmed by how much care, interest, and support I receive from friends, family, and strangers when OM comes into conversations. At Outdoor Mindset meetings, we always talk about how great we think the things we come up with are, but we sometimes wonder how everyone else will feel? I must say that the feedback and support that I have received alone with my one event has been amazing. It confirms the fact that OM is on the right track and we really have something special going on here, and not just from the boards perspective, but from yours as well! So what I am trying to say is that Outdoor Mindset appreciates you! Thank you all for being who you are and supporting what you believe in. We are all so lucky to be a part of an organization that means something to us personally. It means so much to us that you are a part of OM too!

Let’s get crazy!!!

With intense winter weather pretty much all across the US in the past few weeks, it’s easy to get in winter hibernation mode. But not us at OM! Instead we’re gearing up to do some great things in March. In fact, we’re doing things that are SO great that we’re calling it March Madness and the goal is to raise $25k by March 31st. Sheer madness you may say? Nope… we know we can do it, but we need the help of other great people to reach our goal (as is true for many things in life!) so we’ve started the March Madness fundraising campaign on Crowdrise

, an online community that helps pull people together to start projects that all help reach a common goal for non-profit organizations. We need to raise $25k to get our Guide Program up and running on a new online platform that will better match Guides and Travelers, which is one of our main goals at OM – so of course we want to be

GOOOOOOD

at it!

On our

March Madness

Crowdrise

event, there are many options. First, you can donate directly to the overall campaign. Second, you can create your own project to help raise money for March Madness, and ultimately Outdoor Mindset. Third, you can join other people’s projects, and become part of their team if you like what they’re doing and want to do the same thing.

We already have some AWESOME projects up there. Tony Stafford, a friend of Outdoor Mindset and founder of Boulder Sports Performance (which helps other athletes train to reach their ultimate fitness goals) is trying to break the World Record for the fastest marathon while wearing a 40 pound pack at the Baatan Memorial Death March. MADNESS!!! A group of OM’ers and some friends are doing a Moab Adventure race that includes at 275 foot rappel off a cliff. CRAZY! Kellyn and I are going to run a 5k or 10k… ok that sounds a little more calm and reasonable, but still, we’re doing it for OM and showing that we’re getting outdoors and getting active in March and it’s all for Outdoor Mindset. If all else fails, you should at least donate the money you win from your NCAA March Madness tournament bracket to Outdoor Mindset. All you had to do was drink beer, watch TV, and make educated guesses to win that… I’m just sayin’.

So here’s to raising $25k by March 31st and loving every second of the process: from getting outdoors, harassing our friends and family to donate, and putting it all towards the goal of connecting newly diagnosed individuals with someone else uniquely familiar to the neurological experience they’re going through. I’m sure you’ll be hearing from us soon, so just go ahead and pass the word along now.

Let’s make this 2011 March Madness campaign as cool as this highlight video from the 2010 NCAA Tourney. Now help us 'WIN'! (I especially like those MSU clips...)