First Lap of Fullerton Loop June 2021

Each year we dream up a new challenge in which we test our limits both physically and mentally.

We use these challenges as a way of raising money and awareness for two charities that are very close to our hearts.

At the end of the day, the adversity we face during these challenges is short term. The muscle cramps, the joint pain, the blisters, the bruises, the sleep deprivation and even the hallucinations are all temporary, but the impact we have can last a lifetime.

We are not paid to do this. We do not receive accolades, nor do we seek them.  We do this because it is the right thing to do and because we believe that it is everyone’s responsibility to leave this world a little better than they found it.

This is our small way of creating change and making a difference.

 

So how did we get to where we are now?  Well, there have been some interesting events along the way!

 
 

  • This year we will be doing a “throwback-style” event. Similar to 2019’s Climb for a Cause, we will be (hopefully) summitting Mount Yamnuka 3 times in a single day, based upon the amount of donations that we raise

  • On June 21, 2023 we ran laps of the Ed Eggerer track in Airdrie from sunrise to sundown (roughly 14.5 hours). A few of us managed to run more than 100 km over the day… Andrew nearly ran 100 miles!

    And, most importantly, this was our most successful fundraiser since Climb for the Cause. We raised nearly $9000 for AARCS and RMHC!

  • 2 Day 100 K

    For 2022 we decided to go even bigger because…why not!? 

    We structured this event similar to our 2021 event, The Elbow River Relay, and had planned to run every 4 hours, for 48 hours. Our route was set to be approximately 8 kilometers, plus a little bit extra to bring us to a nice, even 100 kilometers in 48 hours.

    As often happens, the best laid plans undoubtedly end up waylaid. As it turned out, when Andrew and Sean arrived in Banff to run both came with injuries. As a result, the boys opted to run more every four hour bout in order to finish the distance quicker (and end the pain they were in faster).

    They ended up finishing the event in just over 36 hours with a summit of Tunnel Mountain, and most importantly, we raised almost $5000 for AARCS and RMHC.

  • Elbow River Relay

    For 2021 we chose to raise money for AARCS and RMHC and split the donations equally between the two charities.

    We knew this event would need to be the biggest one yet, so an obvious choice was to take on the "Goggins Challenge" and run 4 miles, every 4 hours, for 48 hours.

    When Sean asked Brandon and Andrew if they wanted to participate in the event, they jumped on board immediately! Jacob was in as well, despite having never run a marathon.

    A campsite near Bragg Creek was our home for two days and the 6.4 kilometer trail known as Fullerton Loop was our route. Beginning at 5:00am on June 21, 2021 we ran this loop every 4 hours for the next 48 hours. Naturally, we added an extra bit of distance at the end so that we could officially say that we ran Two Marathons, in Two Days, for Two Causes.

    The Elbow River Relay was a special point in the development of Fundraising In Motion. We had a blast and saw some outstanding support from our donors and some local businesses.  In total, we were able to raise $5500 for AARCS and RMHC.

    This event solidified in our minds that this initiative was something we wanted to continue, so we immediately started planning ways to improve for the following year.

  • AARCS Row-A-Thon

    This fundraiser was designed with a direct relationship between the amount of money raised, and the difficulty of the challenge that participants would face on the day of the event.

    Every $100 donated represented 1 mile on a rowing machine. The grand total of $2700 in donations led to 27 very long miles of rowing. For the metric folks out there, that's just under 44 kilometers.

    Run For The House

    Not wanting to leave Ronald McDonald House out of the mix for 2020, Sean put together a second fundraiser for the year.

    This event was the simplest to plan from a logistical standpoint, but the most gruelling in it’s execution.

    Sean planned to run his first ultra marathon, a distance of 60 kilometers, along the Nose Creek and Bow River pathways.

    Fundraising for Run For The House was greatly impacted by the onset of the pandemic and unfortunately the dollar amount raised fell drastically short of the goal. Never one to quit or take the easy way out, Sean completed this event as promised. Realizing that Sean had planned to do this alone, Jacob showed up to run on the morning of the event. A novice runner, he gave it his all and completed the first 30 kilometers, doubling the longest distance he had ever run.

    Jacob and Sean hobbled around on sore knees and ankles for days after this event, but that only encouraged them even more!

  • Climb For The Cause

    Heart Mountain stands roughly 800 vertical meters above the Trans Canada Highway and represents a return trip of approximately 6 kilometers. This was the location Sean chose for the first fundraiser, Climb For The Cause.

    The challenge was to summit Heart Mountain one to three times, based on the amount of money raised.

    -$1500 would be one ascent

    -$4000 would be two ascents

    -$7000 would be three ascents

    The total amount raised was $6200, which meant two ascents of the mountain on an extremely cold, rainy, and foggy mid-September day.

    With the money donated by all of our generous supporters, Ronald McDonald House was able to purchase brand new baby cribs for the House, replacing ones that had been there since the 1950’s. The remainder of the money paid for a family to stay at the House for one full year!