Describe how you have overcome personal or professional
obstacles in the last 3 years to prove that for you there ‘Ain't No Mountain
High Enough'
My story starts when I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid
Leukemia on Halloween. As with most cancer diagnosis I was in total shock. Just
going through hospitalization, multiple rounds of chemotherapy and the toll it
took on my body was hard enough. But in addition to this I developed an
infection in my lungs that spread through my body. The infection became so
intense that I had to be medically sedated and put on a breathing machine. I
remained this way for 12 days. Things were so bad that at one point my wife
felt like she was watching me die (spoiler alert, I got better). Thankfully by
day 12 I was improving and I was able to come off the ventilator.
While I was sedated all my muscles had atrophied and I was
unable to walk. At this point I was at the bottom of the mountain looking up to
the peak. I was going to have to go back up the mountain in order to get back
to where I was before I was first diagnosed. The doctors said I would be able
to rebuild my muscles with time.
When I was healthy enough to be discharged to home, I
started walking for exercise. Over the next few months I was walking 3-5 miles
a day while enjoying every step because I could walk.
Since then I have started running 5k & 10K races & obstacle
races that are 10 miles and have 20+ obstacles you have to overcome. (One of
the obstacles is named Everest!). I am still climbing, challenging myself to
reach the peak. After everything that has happened to me I take every
opportunity to experience life as I was so near to loosing mine. I see this
opportunity to experience something new, challenge myself physically and raise
money for a good cause. All three of these things are things I am passionate
about.
Tell us what makes you a
perfect team member for the Basecamp Quest
I find myself being successful in team environments and
having been a team leader, I feel I have the tools needed to be a successful
member of the basecamp team. Even from a personal level I have always been a
team player; playing sports, social activities and interacting professionally
with my peers. I love working for the World’s Most International Shipper
because I have been able to interact with people from all over the globe. These
relationships have helped me gain a lifetime of experience with other cultures
and be able to interact with others. I love learning new things about other
people and listening to the stories that make them themselves.
I think with this experience with working on a team with so
many people from many different backgrounds makes me an ideal candidate. I am
also a people person that gets along with anyone and very considerate of
others. I know that given this opportunity to be a part of the basecamp team I
would forge lifelong relationships with all those involved.
I enjoy writing and taking photos of my adventures and I
think having someone to help journal the entire process from the team
perspective would be a great record of this trip.
Describe how you will raise funds for the nominated
charity (DIRECT RELIEF) prior to your departure, and what is your target?
I have experience in fundraising for charities. I have experience
with the planning committee for the American Cancer Society. I have also
captained successful teams for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s fundraiser. I have
participated in a fundraiser for Cancer Free Kids. This is a fundraiser in
which people donate money in support of me participating in foot races.
I have been directly responsible in raising over $3000 and
see myself as a good candidate that has had success in fundraising.
I can use my experience with fundraising efforts to be
successful for Direct Relief. I have a professional and personal relationships
with local business that I can tap into and place change jars for donations in
these establishments. I have good inroads with the college I graduated from and
could be featured in the college newspaper to tell my story, raise awareness
for direct relief and solicit donations through their readers and community. I
can reach out to the local morning news show that features charitable causes to
solicit donations. Lastly, I use social media a lot in fundraising because most
people are more likely to donate if they can click a link on social media and
make a donation.
My goal is $5,300 (one dollar for each meter in height of
Everest basecamp).
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