Max's Run for Philanthropy
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If you have landed on this page, I would like to begin by expressing my extreme gratitude to you for taking interest in my fundraiser.
As a member of the Boulder community, I was heartbroken the day 10 amazing individuals lost their lives during the King Soopers shooting in a senseless act of violence. The hardest point to fathom was that those who lost their lives were just going about their days, and would never again be able to pursue their dreams and passions. From that moment onwards, I came to realize how quickly life can be taken from us, and that it is in my best interest to practice gratitude every day, and to enact positive change through action.
For that reason, I will be dedicating the entirety of April to philanthropy and raising money for 4 charities/organizations of my choice; all of which are connected to my life in one form or another. To fundraise and meet my goal of $4,000, which will be allocated in a 4-way even split, I have chosen to train and run from the bottom of Flagstaff Mountain here in Boulder to the Lost Gulch Overlook at the top. This is no easy task, and I look forward to raising money for terrific causes, as well as pushing my physical limits.
About the Run
After a lot of research and phone calls, I was finally able to plan my route to the top of Flagstaff. The run, a mere 3.1 miles, seems like a walk in the park at first glance. However, when you account for the 11% increase in incline, 1,710 ft. change in elevation, and the difficult terrain, the task becomes a lot more daunting. Starting at an elevation of 5,734 ft., I will finish at an elevation of 7,326 ft. above sea level. The run will commence at the foot of the mountain, where I will make the 1.7-mile climb on the rocky path of the Flagstaff Trail. After completing the trail, I will make my way to summit road, which loops back to the main Flagstaff Road. I will finish the run by climbing a mile on the actual road, the most terrifying part of the trial. Traffic on the road can be dangerous and I will have to be vigilant the remaining distance to the finish line at Lost Gulch.
About the Charities & Organizations
GoFundMe for Fallen Officer Eric Talley:
The first charity I have chosen to fundraise for is that of fallen officer Eric Talley, who tragically lost his life in the Boulder shooting. Talley put his life on the line in active duty and sadly passed away as a result. Talley left behind a wife, as well as 7 children. I think it’s of the utmost importance to provide his family with the necessary resources to live life to the best of their abilities following the loss of a husband and father. Talley would clearly want what’s best for his family, and I will happily raise money so that his family can recover.
https://www.bouldercounty.org/safety/sheriff/fallen-officer-fund/
The Island School & Cape Eleuthera Foundation:
In the Fall of 2015, I had the privilege of attending the Island School, a 100-day semester abroad program that takes place on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. My time at the Island School shaped my identity, and largely accounts for the man I strive to be today. By donating to the Cape Eleuthera Foundation, I will be giving back to a place that has given so much to me. My donation will go towards assisting with operations at the Island School, Deep Creek Middle School, The Cape Eleuthera Institute for Marine Research, and the Center for Sustainable Development. I cannot think of a more important place to fundraise and give back to.
http://www.capeeleutherafoundation.org
Kyle Leventhal Scholarship Fund:
In July of 2020, Kyle Leventhal tragically lost his life in a car accident. Kyle was a friend and a brother in my fraternity. When I think about Kyle, the first thing I will always remember is his ability to always be upbeat and to always hold a smile. He mirrored many of the values and characteristics I strive to attain every day. Kyle was a role model, and his legacy will continue to live on for eternity. I want to donate to the scholarship fund for Kyle because I feel like I owe it to him. He was stripped of the future he deserved more than anyone else, and I see this as a way to pay my respects. I never want Kyle to be forgotten, and pledging a ¼ of my donations to his fund will help me remember how many people’s lives he had an impact on.
https://www.serrahs.com/padre-life/kyle-leventhal-endowed-scholarship-fund
Flying Kites:
Flying Kites is a non-profit charity, that looks to “transform primary education in rural Kenya by upskilling teachers, supporting schools & investing in girls.” I first became aware of Flying Kites when one of my best friends’ mother, Vicki Knox, told me about the charity. Since then, I have longed to find a way to make a donation. Mrs. Knox has had such a positive influence on my life, and I want to give back to an organization she has dedicated much of her life to. For me, donating to Flying Kites has an important overarching meaning. Much of my success in life can be accredited to influential women in my life. My mother, who is one of the most important role models in my life, has blessed me with many privileges and has been there for me every step of the way. I think society constantly undervalues women, especially in underdeveloped countries, and I want to do my best to provide for them so that the future is that of women. Donating to Flying Kites will surely have a positive impact on the future women of Kenya, and soon, I want to take on the difficult task of scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro to fundraise again for the organization.
https://www.flyingkites.org
Conclusion
I am truly ecstatic to take on this challenge. I plan on training for the entirety of the month and completing the challenge on April 30th, one day before I begin my final exams. By that point, I will hopefully have fundraised the $4,000 goal, and be able to complete the physical aspect of the challenge. Please do follow my journey, which I will be updating frequently on my Instagram (@maxthebaud). I am truly grateful for the life I have been given. It is now time for me to give back, and assist those who do not have the same privilege that has been bestowed upon me. Please consider donating to my fundraiser, and or sharing my campaign.
Again, Thank you.
Max Thébaud
If you have landed on this page, I would like to begin by expressing my extreme gratitude to you for taking interest in my fundraiser.
As a member of the Boulder community, I was heartbroken the day 10 amazing individuals lost their lives during the King Soopers shooting in a senseless act of violence. The hardest point to fathom was that those who lost their lives were just going about their days, and would never again be able to pursue their dreams and passions. From that moment onwards, I came to realize how quickly life can be taken from us, and that it is in my best interest to practice gratitude every day, and to enact positive change through action.
For that reason, I will be dedicating the entirety of April to philanthropy and raising money for 4 charities/organizations of my choice; all of which are connected to my life in one form or another. To fundraise and meet my goal of $4,000, which will be allocated in a 4-way even split, I have chosen to train and run from the bottom of Flagstaff Mountain here in Boulder to the Lost Gulch Overlook at the top. This is no easy task, and I look forward to raising money for terrific causes, as well as pushing my physical limits.
About the Run
After a lot of research and phone calls, I was finally able to plan my route to the top of Flagstaff. The run, a mere 3.1 miles, seems like a walk in the park at first glance. However, when you account for the 11% increase in incline, 1,710 ft. change in elevation, and the difficult terrain, the task becomes a lot more daunting. Starting at an elevation of 5,734 ft., I will finish at an elevation of 7,326 ft. above sea level. The run will commence at the foot of the mountain, where I will make the 1.7-mile climb on the rocky path of the Flagstaff Trail. After completing the trail, I will make my way to summit road, which loops back to the main Flagstaff Road. I will finish the run by climbing a mile on the actual road, the most terrifying part of the trial. Traffic on the road can be dangerous and I will have to be vigilant the remaining distance to the finish line at Lost Gulch.
About the Charities & Organizations
GoFundMe for Fallen Officer Eric Talley:
The first charity I have chosen to fundraise for is that of fallen officer Eric Talley, who tragically lost his life in the Boulder shooting. Talley put his life on the line in active duty and sadly passed away as a result. Talley left behind a wife, as well as 7 children. I think it’s of the utmost importance to provide his family with the necessary resources to live life to the best of their abilities following the loss of a husband and father. Talley would clearly want what’s best for his family, and I will happily raise money so that his family can recover.
https://www.bouldercounty.org/safety/sheriff/fallen-officer-fund/
The Island School & Cape Eleuthera Foundation:
In the Fall of 2015, I had the privilege of attending the Island School, a 100-day semester abroad program that takes place on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. My time at the Island School shaped my identity, and largely accounts for the man I strive to be today. By donating to the Cape Eleuthera Foundation, I will be giving back to a place that has given so much to me. My donation will go towards assisting with operations at the Island School, Deep Creek Middle School, The Cape Eleuthera Institute for Marine Research, and the Center for Sustainable Development. I cannot think of a more important place to fundraise and give back to.
http://www.capeeleutherafoundation.org
Kyle Leventhal Scholarship Fund:
In July of 2020, Kyle Leventhal tragically lost his life in a car accident. Kyle was a friend and a brother in my fraternity. When I think about Kyle, the first thing I will always remember is his ability to always be upbeat and to always hold a smile. He mirrored many of the values and characteristics I strive to attain every day. Kyle was a role model, and his legacy will continue to live on for eternity. I want to donate to the scholarship fund for Kyle because I feel like I owe it to him. He was stripped of the future he deserved more than anyone else, and I see this as a way to pay my respects. I never want Kyle to be forgotten, and pledging a ¼ of my donations to his fund will help me remember how many people’s lives he had an impact on.
https://www.serrahs.com/padre-life/kyle-leventhal-endowed-scholarship-fund
Flying Kites:
Flying Kites is a non-profit charity, that looks to “transform primary education in rural Kenya by upskilling teachers, supporting schools & investing in girls.” I first became aware of Flying Kites when one of my best friends’ mother, Vicki Knox, told me about the charity. Since then, I have longed to find a way to make a donation. Mrs. Knox has had such a positive influence on my life, and I want to give back to an organization she has dedicated much of her life to. For me, donating to Flying Kites has an important overarching meaning. Much of my success in life can be accredited to influential women in my life. My mother, who is one of the most important role models in my life, has blessed me with many privileges and has been there for me every step of the way. I think society constantly undervalues women, especially in underdeveloped countries, and I want to do my best to provide for them so that the future is that of women. Donating to Flying Kites will surely have a positive impact on the future women of Kenya, and soon, I want to take on the difficult task of scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro to fundraise again for the organization.
https://www.flyingkites.org
Conclusion
I am truly ecstatic to take on this challenge. I plan on training for the entirety of the month and completing the challenge on April 30th, one day before I begin my final exams. By that point, I will hopefully have fundraised the $4,000 goal, and be able to complete the physical aspect of the challenge. Please do follow my journey, which I will be updating frequently on my Instagram (@maxthebaud). I am truly grateful for the life I have been given. It is now time for me to give back, and assist those who do not have the same privilege that has been bestowed upon me. Please consider donating to my fundraiser, and or sharing my campaign.
Again, Thank you.
Max Thébaud
Organizer
Max Thebaud
Organizer
Boulder, CO