Andy's 29029 for BnB
Tax deductible
Many of you know that I have been preparing for nearly 2 years to participate in 29029. Hosted at Stratton Mtn in Vermont, 29029 is an "opportunity" to climb 29,029 vertical feet in 36 hours or less. At 6 a.m. on Friday, October 15, I will start ascending Stratton Mtn with the hope of doing that 17 times before 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 16.
While my reasons for chasing this endeavor are healthy, they contain a somewhat selfish element. Similarly, the amount of time and resources spent to prepare for, and participate in this event is also . . . selfish. Meanwhile, the moral support provided by so many friends during my long hours of training (and my virtual 29029 dress rehearsal in October 2020) has been plentiful and exceeded only by the incredible patience of Jenn and our kids while I chase this goal.
Quite simply, the time has come to pay it forward. To that end, I hope that my 29029 quest can raise money and awareness for a non-profit organization with whom I started volunteering about a year ago. Based in Jamaica Plain, Bikes Not Bombs uses the bicycle as a vehicle for social change to achieve economic mobility for Black and other marginalized people in Boston and the Global South. The work of Bikes not Bombs includes:
- Each year, collecting roughly 5,000 used bicycles and tons of used parts from upporters around Greater Boston and New England.
- Shipping most of these bikes overseas to economic development projects through International Partners in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
- Repurposing some of these bikes in their Youth Programs where teens learn bicycle safety and mechanic skills in the process of earning bikes to keep for themselves.
- Through its retail Bike Shop, reconditioning and selling donated bikes, while employing many graduates of its programs and using the profit from the bicycle sales, parts sales, and repairs to help fund the Youth Programs and international work.
Thanks for your support. Don't overthink it. Please donate.
Keep climbing,
Andy
For more information on Bikes not Bombs: https://bikesnotbombs.org/
For more information on 29029: https://29029everesting.com/
Organizer
Andrew Borggaard
Organizer
Jamaica Plain, MA
Bikes Not Bombs, Inc.
Beneficiary