I Need to Go Outside

MORE DETAILS ON DONATIONS for My Walk Across the Country to Help End Childhood Obesity

Saturday, January 21st, 2012

WHY AM I DOING THIS?

A few years ago I set up this site and, while traveling, I would make videos of the places I visited. And I quickly noticed how, when others watched them, it really inspired them to get outside more often.

But I’ve noticed that, with the rise of technology, life has gotten easier for a lot of us, especially children, and in that process we’ve detached from nature and rates of childhood obesity have risen.

And since I’m a strong believer in practicing what you preach, what better way is there to convince others to step outside more often than to be outside, on foot, most hours of the day myself?

So, as I was picking places to visit for my website I started to think about an idea that has been brewing in my mind for about 4 years…
What would it be like to WALK across the country?
How would that change a person?
What would you see?
And what could I share with others, through my experience?

So, after 6 months of planning for this journey, this is the final push to make sure that it happens. I’m working toward saving up for it, most of the plans are already set in stone and I am happy to have everyone be a part of this journey.

HOW WILL I PREPARE?

I’ll be walking anywhere from 20 to 60 miles a day, to complete my 4,834 mile journey from Delaware to California, on the northern section of the American Discovery Trail. I have already lost over 80 pounds, while getting my body fit for this journey, and I have my path planned out, know all the hotels and campgrounds I will be staying at and where I will get food and do laundry.

Plus I have begun my endurance training for this walk, using the Dynamic Plateau Training method, which I have perfected through years of challenging my body to reach different fitness goals. I’m gradually increasing the overall distance I travel each day, while gradually increasing the distance that I run, while gradually increasing the weight that I carry on my back. And gradually my body will be up to the challenge of a 4,834 mile journey, on foot.

DAILY VIDEOS

And I plan on creating daily videos and uploading them on YouTube, when I’m in my hotel for the night so that kids and their parents can be inspired all next year, as they watch my videos, and maybe they’ll step outside a little more often too.

So, every day that I am out there walking/running you will be able to watch these videos to see where I’m at, what I’ve seen and so on.

WRITING A BOOK

I am also going to be writing in a journal each night, which I will turn into a book and 10% of the profits from that book will be donated to the Children & Nature Network, which is an organization that helps kids reconnect with nature through fun, outdoor events.

So, people will be able to dive deeper into the journey, through the book, and at the same time they will be helping kids become more active outside.

FREE DOCUMENTARY

And I will also be creating a full-length documentary about my journey, which will be uploaded to YouTube for everyone to watch for free.

This will help tell the whole story, with a more professional feel to it, so everyone can experience the journey in one lump sum. This will get kids, their parents and everyone in between more excited to go outside more often, or even get them interested in reading the book, for more information.

RUNNING MY FIRST MARATHON

But I got to thinking and realized that by the end of this journey I would be as fit as I’ve ever been. I’ve already got 4 months of fat loss training under my belt, and then I went right into 5 months of endurance training and right after that I will start my 7-month journey across the country.

So, that’s well over a year of training, all focused on running, and I think I should run a “victory lap” when I get to California… a 26.2 mile victory lap, to be exact! I have my sights set on the Half Moon Bay International Marathon, and I think it will be a great way to round out this trip.

I want future generations to live healthy lives, so I’m putting my body to the test and I’m going to finish out strong. Now, I don’t care about going home with a medal around my neck, but I will give it my all as I run across the finish line with my top contributor’s shirt on.

WHY I NEED YOUR HELP

But if you would like to help make this happen I’ve got some great gifts to hook you up with, as you can see up top (and in detail down below). Since I will be out on the trail/road, on foot, for around 7 months next year I need help raising funds to make all of this happen.

Your contribution will ensure that this journey happens as safely as possible and that you all come on the journey with me, through the daily videos, documentary and book, and experience the great outdoors in a way you never have before.

I will need to ensure that this is a safe and healthy trek, so I need to be well equipped so that I can stay on the path and can realistically travel the distances I need to each day.

Your contributions will go toward things like food, toiletries, cell phone service, laundry, hotel and campground expenses, camping gear, GPS, a durable laptop, hiking boots and camera gear.

WHAT YOUR DONATIONS WILL GET YOU

If you are willing to help me make this happen, I’m willing to give you gifts in return as a thank you.  I will personally thank each and every person, in a video, who donates any amount of money to this cause, to show my gratitude to all of you, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.  There are a couple of donation levels that you can reach, depending on how much you donate, but multiple donations from the same person or company can be added up to reach the higher donation levels.  For instance, ten $10 donations from the same person raises them up to the $100 donation level.

And if you are willing to donate $100 or above, then you will get a FREE Autographed copy of the Book I’m going to be publishing, so that you will always be able to come back and re-experience the journey that you helped make happen.  And that will always serve as an inspiration, as you read through the experiences and the changes I went through on this journey.  But remember, that this book won’t be published until after I finish the walk.

And if you would like to become a Sponsor, through a donation of $2,500 or above, then you will not only get a FREE Autographed copy of the Book, but I will also create a personalized video for you about ANYTHING you want.  You can have me do a video testimonial, test out your products, record a commercial or anything else you want me to do that is legal, within the terms of YouTube and it has to be something that I can afford to do.  Video marketing is a great way to get your name, company or brand out there, since people interact with video on a daily basis.

You will also receive a 135 x 30 banner ad, at the top of this site, which will replace the donation information once I begin the walk.  These banners will be up all year long and they will link back to any website you choose.  So this will be year-long exposure for you through my site, so that everyone can see who helped make this journey possible.

And lastly, you will also get a FULL PAGE at the end of the book, I will be publishing, to advertise anything you want.  These pages will be put in a section of the book so that people know you helped make the journey possible, that they just read about.  You can include information about yourself, your products, your company and any contact information you want in your full page ad.  And these ads will be published in EVERY SINGLE BOOK, so that your exposure compounds each and every time a book is sold, or someone lends the book to someone else.  This is life-long, offline marketing for you.  But again, the book will not be published until after I complete the walk.

So, if this seems like something you want to be a part of, you want to see it happen, you want to help others reconnect with nature and live healthier lives, then please feel free to donate through the donation button at the top of this site.

AND FEEL FREE TO USE THIS FLYER TO HELP SPREAD THE WORD

If we happen to go over the goal, then half of the excess funds will be donated directly to the Children & Nature Network. The other half of the excess will be used to help get the book published through Amazon.com, so that I can send out the autographed copies as soon as possible.

Tags: cause, causes, children and nature network, donate, donation, donations, donor, health, healthy, healthy lifestyle, help kids reconnect with nature, journey, nature, outdoors, outside, raise awareness, reconnect with nature, trek, walk, walking | Posted in CeleGREAT Walks America | Comments Off