How often have you thought about doing something outside your comfort zone? Travelling to some part of the world you've never been to? Challenging yourself to do something most people would only dream of?
What has stopped you? Was it fear that you wouldn't succeed? Was it fear that you *would* succeed and then you'd have to go out and try other things?
For a good friend of mine, the thing standing in her way is something both easier and more difficult than that. It's fundraising.
My friend Julie - who used to be the mild-mannered, yet intrepid, Group Sales Coordinator at CenterStage Theater in Baltimore - is part of a two-woman team (called the "X elles") who have challenged themselves to enter the Rallye Aiche des Gazelles this March. (You can read about the team, here.)
This Rally is the kind of crazy thing that most of us only dream about doing. It's 9 days in Morocco (read "in the desert") with nothing for guidance but a map and a compass. And it's not really a race, because the goal is simply to get from point A to point B in the shortest possible distance, not the shortest amount of time. (Which, because you don't put out as much pollution at lower speeds, means that this is actually rated as an eco-friendly event.)
As if that wasn't enough, on top of all of that, the racers will also be building a school to give back to the people of Morocco.
PLUS this is a women-only event - the only one of it's kind in the world. (Which, honestly, probably explains the eco-friendliness, the lack of major competitiveness, and the fact that they're building a school.)
But here's the thing: even though the Rally is in March, Julie and her teammate Rachelle are still in need of funding. So...
If you've ever thought about doing something "just because it was there," or if you've ever wanted to help build a school in Africa, or if you just happen to have a few extra bucks because it's payday, PLEASE send them your support. (And please forward this blog posting - or their direct info - to anyone you think might be interested in helping out.)
You can donate via their website, or their brand new indiegogo donation page. In either location, although the site suggests a minimum donation of $100, you can donate as little or as much as you want (just choose the "no perk" option on the Indiegogo page).
Here's to the people in the world who go out and do things just because they can!
2 comments:
Robert, this was taken from Ciona Rouse's "Do The Crazy Thing" poem which is posted on ""A Thing With Feathers." Didn't know if you knew but it is customary to give the author credit as it is copyrighted. Love your article and Ciona does a lot of work with Africa. She even helped to start a website where you can post prayers for the people of Africa and read theirs for the rest of the world. It takes all of us being unafraid to do whatever destiny calls us to if we are have peace within our souls. Spread the word! "Do the crazy thing!"
Thanks, Anonymous, for your feedback. I'm so glad you liked my posting!
I actually work in publishing, so I know how important it is to mark copyrights, and I'm thrilled to have your input on where this phrase has been used.
When I was writing my post, I was actually quoting the website of the people I was writing about - and not the poem you cited (I had not heard of the poem until you mentioned it - I had simply seen the headline on the website which I reference in my post). Although it is a fine line, there is a definite difference between the two sources, and I did make reference to the site from which I pulled the quote to give it credit.
Happily, now that you've commented, here, future readers will know that there is a poem by the same name.
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