ROB'S RUN - AUGUST 5-7, 2017
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Rob DeCou's thoughts after completing Badwater Race to benefit End Polio Now campaign
AUGUST 15, 2017 | BY ROB DECOU
We started in Badwater Basin at on Saturday August 5th at 6:05am. With the help of our amazing crew we finished the Badwater 135 at the Mt. Whitney Portal on Monday, August 7 at 10:37pm. Maria Walton and Daniel reached the portal within the hour and all three of us had officially finished the 135 mile crossing!!!
We started in Badwater Basin at on Saturday August 5th at 6:05am. With the help of our amazing crew we finished the Badwater 135 at the Mt. Whitney Portal on Monday, August 7 at 10:37pm. Maria Walton and Daniel reached the portal within the hour and all three of us had officially finished the 135 mile crossing!!!
My goal if I was in decent physical shape at the Mt. Whitney portal was to make a summit attempt. How could I possibly go from the lowest point in the U.S. and not make that final push to the highest point, Mt. Whitney summit. I was "this close"...
For those of you who aren't Rotarians one of the signature projects that Rotary has been involved with is the eradication of Polio. This year I've become intimately familiar with that movement and one of the video's that captured my attention is "this close". We are this close to eradicating polio, how could we stop now. My good friend Jeff J. Kim when I told him about my thoughts of going to the summit said, while I'll donate $146 for every mile you covered on this journey. He also said, "What if you challenged everyone to donate an extra $11 for each additional mile to the summit". This idea stuck with me and the results of the video that Luke Rafferty sent out challenging Rotarians to donate that extra $11 was overwhelming. Many Rotarians deciding to donate $22 because they recognize that I would also have to make the decent.
We are this close to eradicating polio, how could we stop now. To help close the gap, many of you gave $11 in support of the last 11 mile stretch to the Mt. Whitney summit, some gave $22 and others $146 for the full $146 miles.
Together, over $1,500 was pledged through Facebook. This doesn't include the Rotarians who have donated through their clubs. I can't thank you enough fro giving to this cause. If you feel led to chip in $11, $22, or even $146 you can donate at the District 5280 website or by check, payable to the Playa Sunrise Rotary Foundation.
Make Electronic Donation: Click Here (Rotary District 5280)
Send Check Donation: Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary - P.O. Box 10883, Marina del Rey, CA 90295
Send Check Donation: Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary - P.O. Box 10883, Marina del Rey, CA 90295
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is matching every donation made through Rotary 2 - 1. An $11 = $33 towards the campaign to eradicate polio. The Donation total will be announced on October 28, 2017 during the Rotary Foundation Celebration Dinner.
Playa Venice Rotarian Rob DeCou raced from Death Valley to the portal of Mt. Whitney to raise funds to End Polio Now
JULY 15, 2017 | BY PLAYA VENICE ROTARY
Playa Venice Rotarian Rob DeCou ran from the Badwater Basin in Death Valley to the portal of Mt. Whitney from August 5-7, 2017 in an effort to raise funds for End Polio Now.
Playa Venice Rotarian Rob DeCou ran from the Badwater Basin in Death Valley to the portal of Mt. Whitney from August 5-7, 2017 in an effort to raise funds for End Polio Now.
Badwater Basin is known as the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level and near the spot where the hottest temperatures on the planet was recorded: 134 degrees in 1913. Badwater and Whitney Portal are located about 135 road miles from one another. Drive time is about 2 in a half hours, run time for Rob is approximately 60 hours. Elevation at the Whitney Portal is 8,361 feet, and the Mt. Whitney Summit a short 11 miles switchback trail away with an elevation of 14,508.