It’s that time again, when we get to report on the data that really matters. Forget about w/kg, vDOT, or your LTHR…let’s talk about giving real money to organizations that are making a difference in the lives of others and improving the quality of life for us all.

Every month in 2011, Endurance Nation has pledged to award $250 to up to eight (8) member or training plan athletes who are racing to raise money for a particular charity. Our 2011 annual commitment is $24,000 — a lot in some ways, but not enough in others.

Please review the list of organizations below and the amazing athletes that support them. If you have the time and the means, we’d appreciate you continuing what these folks have started by adding a contribution via their individual donation pages.

February 2011 KickStart Recipients

Robert Diday, The Hall Education Fund, Inc.

“The Hall Education Fund provides scholarship funds to nurture and enhance the educational opportunities and goals of students with demonstrated financial need who are residents of New Brunswick, NJ.

This fund has been in existence since November 25, 1808, and has provided scholarship funds to many poor students since that time.”

Shannon Scott, Children’s Tumor Foundation (Help Shannon make a difference here.)

“My 4 year old daughter Scarlett has a genetic disorder called Neurofibromatosis. She was diagnosed a little over a year ago, and has large tumors reaching from her clavicle, up to her eye socket. One tumour wraps around her larynx and throat; she’s already had one surgery to help mimize the tumor’s impact on her breathing, but docs say any more surgery would be far too risky.   Because there is no cure for NF, my husband and I raise funds for NF Research.

We have a blog called www.scarlettscott.com that gives more details about our amazing Scarlet.”

Jim Maas, Multiple Sclerosis Society (Help Jim make a difference here.)

“This cause matters to me because my aunt is battling MS right now. She has lost her vision at times and battles with crippling body aches. She is relatively young (38) and with no cure in sight we know it will only get worse. She is a great person, she worked for an adoption agency for a while and during her time there she worked on a case with four brothers ages 5-13. No matter how hard she tried she couldn’t find a home that would take them all in. Not wanting to see the boys split up, SHE TOOK ALL OF THEM IN!!!! Already having two teenage boys herself we thought she was crazy but felt that she was doing a truly heroic thing, now these boys are young men or teenagers themselves and we were fortunate enough to see them grow up before our eyes in OUR family. She is truly a angel in those boys’ eyes (as well as our family’s)and it is unfair she has been inflicted with this disease, that’s why I ride in the Tour De Farms every year. It’s a great organization that puts so much effort into research and comforting the people with this disease. The ride is two days, 100 miles the first and 75 the second. I’m the geek who shows up TT bike, disc rear, tri suit every year and smashes myself, not because it’s great training for Louisville but because I have the ability to, unlike my aunt. This is why this cause matters to me.”

Joe Roof, YMCA’s Partners with Youth Program (Help Joe make a difference here.)

“I am race director for the Tom Hoskins Memorial Triathlon and a board member of the Columbia YMCA. I also started our Triathlon club three years ago with a mission…a club that gives back! We have grown to over 70 members and held our first event last year. Our goal was twofold, raise money for the YMCA’s charity, Partners with Youth, and raise awareness for bicycle safety. We raised $8000 for Partners with Youth!!  We aso honored the memory of Tom Hoskins, a local cyclist killed on a charity ride in 2007 when struck by a motorist allegedly on her cell phone.
A donation from my team at EN would get us a step closer to our goal this year of raising $10,000 and continuing our efforts to make our roads safer.
For more information on the race series go to www.ytriseries.com.
I appreciate your consideration!!”

Bill Fritton, Irondads for a Cure/Curesearch (Help Bill make a difference here.)

“Mike and I met a few years ago when we both started participating in triathlon. During the past several years we have grown close as friends and our families and kids have become friends as well. Last year when his son was born with cancer this seemed to me the most unfair thing possible. To have a life lost after only 27 days to such a horrible disease just did not seem right. I remember hearing that Mike and his family had decided to stop the experimental treatments because the doctors had so advised. I cannot even imagine having to make that kind of decision regarding my child. Makes one appreciate how much we have each and every day. Anyway, there was not a whole lot I could do at the time to help with the situation. So if doing this race and helping raise a little money along the way to possibly help others facing a similar situation it seems like a good thing to do.”

Suzanne Kinsky, AIDS United (Help Suzanne make a difference here.)

“AIDS United is the organization I work for. In my current position, I manage a grant program that sends money straight to the community to support services to get people with HIV/AIDS into and maintained in medical care. Our goal is to connect 3500 people to care in the next three years. Money raised by this event will contribute to this effort. I am so excited by the innovative programs with whom I’m able to work and I desperately want to see each project succeed.

In addition, part of the funds raised by this fundraiser will also go to the Washington AIDS Partnership, a DC-based nonprofit for whom I used to work. In addition to supporting HIV prevention and care services in DC, where HIV rates are higher than many third world countries, the Partnership runs a critical AmeriCorps program that places 12 volunteers throughout the community each year. The volunteers fill important roles (HIV testers, educators, case managers, etc.) during their year of service, and afterward many go on to medical, law, and public health careers serving the poor and underserved.

Fundraising for this event is through a program called Team to End AIDS (T2EA), which is similar in model to Team in Training. I’d much rather do a triathlon than a marathon, honestly, but it’s really important to me to not only support my organization but also be a part of the team with my colleagues in the first year of this program. I’d love it if my “other” team, EN, could be able to support me in this. Either way, I think it’s really amazing that you guys have committed to giving back in this way. “

Ebe Boettcher, American Cancer Society/DetermiNation (Help Ebe make a difference here.)

“I was working with a patient in my hospital who had bone cancer. He was going to start radiation after the Thanksgiving holiday (great place to be over the holiday…not so much!) when we started talking about riding bikes and a park that he rides through every day I had raced in 2 months before. He started telling me how much he admired my tenacity and drive to do an Ironman. I asked him how he could say that when he was staring death straight in the eye…he told me “Ebe, I don’t have a choice, I am going to die, but I am not going to go out without a fight. You have a choice, and you have chosen to get off your ass and do something amazing with your life.”That statement is what gets me through 2×20 minute/ 4×2.5/ and 2x 15 @85%.
2nd Reason
Uncle Randy. Randy Maifeld was one of the finest human beings to walk the earth. Everything he did made this place wonderful. He was a cycleist, landscape designer, artist, father, husband, renosaunce man…he passed away from cancer and showed everyone he knew how to live life to the fullest.”

Lance Carter, Team in Training/LLS (Help Lance make a difference here.)

“I have been a Team in Training tri coach for 9 years.  When I began coaching I did not personally know any Leukemia/Lymphoma cancer patients/survivors.  (Though I am a cancer survivor – malignant melanoma 1997 diagnosed/surgically removed).  Over the years I’ve come to hear many sad stories of lost loved ones and a few happy stories from the lucky ones.  I was always amazed at the participants for getting out there and asking for money.  It was a prospect that scared the bleep out of me personally.  I finally decided that I needed to become a participant, face a fear, and take my turn fundraising.  So here I am!”

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If you want to join Endurance Nation and apply for your $250 fundraising “kickstart”, please visit our Join Page here. If the Team is closed you can buy a training plan or join the WaitList for the next available opening.

I will be doing my first Half Ironman® this year at Oklahoma City OK, and by donating money to my cause you are helping me get to that finish line.“