#CAPSTRONG 🧢💪

I could write an entire book on why I choose Capstrong as one of my #50for50 charities. Capstrong was formed to remember and honor Cap George’s amazing legacy of kindness and care for others. For 17 years I had the honor of being called Uncle Chris by my oldest nephew. I hiked a mountain with him on my back, pulled him tubing on the lake for hours with his cousins, cheered him on from the sidelines, and watched him fight cancer with unbelievable tenacity.

Five years ago, I called Cap on a Sunday afternoon to see if he wanted to go skiing at Buck Hill. On the chair lift up, Cap told me that he wanted to earn a scholarship to play basketball in college. BUT... he also told me that not many people are able to get scholarships. As a result - it was important for him to get good grades in high school to get into college. Cap was an A student and a three sport varsity athlete. This past year Capstrong honored 13 Rosemount seniors with a $1,000 college scholarship.

Cap was fiercely competitive, but never took himself that seriously. A couple of years ago, I attended one of Cap’s basketball games and took pictures of him. Afterwards, he looked through the photos and asked me to send him just one. It wasn’t the photo of him making a defensive stop, it wasn’t the photo of him taking a 3-point shot, in this photo Cap was attempting a layup that was blocked by the other team. He thought it was hilarious and wanted to share it with his friends! Cap loved to laugh!

Next Saturday, I’ll be running farther and longer than I have ever run in a single day. I’m nervous and excited, but finishing the race has never been in doubt because I’ll have a warrior running with me. A warrior who was fiercely competitive, humble, kind, caring and mature beyond his years. A nephew who left his mark on me, on our family, on the Rosemount community, and on anyone who ever had the chance to meet him.

Your $50 donation to Capstrong supports acts of kindness and college scholarships! Please join me in supporting Cap’s legacy by giving at

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=V75CZQQVP44Z6

If you would like to learn more about Cap, visit https://www.capgeorge.com/.

- Chris

Links to support my #50for50 challenge:

Kyle Rudolph's End Zone: https://crowdfund.umn.edu/campaign/Chris-George-50for50
Feeding America: https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participant/Chris-George-50for50
LifeSource: https://www.life-source.org/giving/make-a-gift/
Capstrong: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=V75CZQQVP44Z6
Make-A-Wish: http://site.wish.org/goto/ChrisGeorge50for50

TOUCHDOWN

I received this baseball photo collage of Mason.  It’s the 4 years he played traveling baseball in Rosemount. There are also gaps where we don’t have photos.  He wanted to play baseball those years, but his health got in the way and prevented him from having those opportunities.  

Over the course of the past 16 years, Mason has had more surgeries than I have fingers and toes and has spent months of his life in a hospital bed.  In the first half of 2018, we spent a lot of time at the U of MN Masonic Children’s Hospital.  We were such regular customers on the 5th floor that the nursing staff knew us by our first name and that you had to bring applesauce for Mason to take his pills.  

Growing up, Mason went to his first Colorado Rockies baseball game at 2 months old and first Denver Pioneer Hockey game at 3 months old.  Ever since, he has played any and every sport possible.  Our garage is filled with soccer, basketball, baseball, cross-country, hockey, lacrosse, and golf equipment. Mason loves to be active.

When spending time in a hospital, time moves differently.  Your day and night is constantly being interrupted by vital checks, medicine, visits from doctors, nursing shift changes and the challenges of using the facilities while connected to an IV.  Nothing is easy, nothing is normal, you never get to fully rest, and you don’t get to leave the confines of the hospital.  You are effectively in quarantine.  

And yet, we know that getting out of bed and moving are helpful in recovery.  In March of 2018, just a month before Mason received his new liver, Kyle Rudolph’s End Zone opened its doors at the U of MN Masonic Children’s Hospital.  For us, the End Zone became the place where Mason could still be an athlete by shooting hoops, striking out batters on the sports simulator, and challenging me to a game of Bubble Hockey.  The time spent in the End Zone was time away from being in the hospital.  

Hanging in the End Zone

I’m forever grateful to the entire team of nurses, doctors and health professionals at the U of MN Masonic Children’s Hospital and the kindness of people like Kyle Rudolph who made the End Zone possible. Treating illness while finding ways to allow kids to be kids isn’t easy, but the End Zone is just one of the many ways Mason was able to heal and eventually play baseball again.  

I’m two and half weeks from my 50K run and have raised more than $8,500 towards my $25,000 goal.  Thank you to all who have donated and I hope this story compels those who haven’t to donate $50 to one of the 5 charities I’m supporting.  

Kyle Rudolph’s End Zone: https://crowdfund.umn.edu/campaign/Chris-George-50for50
Feeding America: https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participant/Chris-George-50for50
LifeSource: https://www.life-source.org/giving/make-a-gift/
Capstrong: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=V75CZQQVP44Z6
Make-A-Wish: http://site.wish.org/goto/ChrisGeorge50for50

I’m honored to have already received so much support. Your kindness is going to propel me to the finish line and your gift is going to impact the lives of kids like Mason and so many others who benefit from these charities. 

- Chris

Turning 50

 

My mom always made sure that birthdays were special.  Balloons, wearing hats, singing and getting to choose what type of cake you wanted, were all key components of our birthday celebrations. My favorite birthday cake wasn’t a cake at all, it was a banana cream pie from Poppin Fresh.  

But, for the first time in 50 years, I won’t get to hear my Mom sing Happy Birthday and tell me about the day I was born.  I won’t have the opportunity to share what I picked out for dinner, what my birthday “cake” will be, and what hat I’ll be wearing at the table.   All of the traditions will continue, but there will be a void in the day.  

To honor my mother, I chose to support Feeding America because she cared about hunger.  Volunteering at the Northfield Food Shelf was something we did together when I was growing up and supporting our local food shelf is something that I and my parents have continued throughout our lives.  

Her presence is going to be missed today, but I know she will be with me on my 50th birthday and on my #50for50 run in 4 weeks.  As an athlete and runner, she would have loved me supporting this adventure, but I know her “soul left this world to meander with the bear spirits” and somehow those spirits will be with me on my 50K trail run through the woods of Murphy-Hanrehan Park.

Did you know that your $50 donation to Feeding America provides 500 meals!!!  Please join me in supporting this great charity by giving at https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participant/Chris-George-50for50

- Chris

Links to support my #50for50 challenge.:

Kyle Rudolph's End Zone: https://crowdfund.umn.edu/campaign/Chris-George-50for50

Feeding America: https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participant/Chris-George-50for50

LifeSource: https://www.life-source.org/giving/make-a-gift/ 

Capstrong: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=V75CZQQVP44Z6
Make-A-Wish: http://site.wish.org/goto/ChrisGeorge50for50

Dancing Under the Stars

 

It was a clear, starry night atop the Disney Dream cruise ship.  Dressed like pirates, with fireworks exploding above us, Mason and I danced to Dynamite by Taio Cruz.  A smile as wide as the ocean crossed my face.  Mason didn't have a worry in the world at that moment.   He wasn't in pain, sick, or worried about the next doctor's appointment.   He was DANCING and loving every minute of our time aboard our Disney cruise made possible by Make-A-Wish Minnesota.  

Just a few months after Mason's liver transplant, Make-A-Wish granted his Wish for a once in a lifetime cruise and the magical Disney experience that we love.   We were able to relax, eat, swim, and dance!  We were able to swim with Dolphins, have a private meeting with Mickey, and enjoy a day at Castaway Cay.  

Make-A-Wish MN is one of my #50for50 charities because of the amazing opportunities they give to kids dealing with medical issues.  They funded our trip and just a year later, they made Cap's trip to Hawaii possible.  Please consider donating to my Make-A-Wish fundraiser to support more opportunities for kids to dance without worrying about their illness.  

Mason's Home Run

 

Mason was the inspiration for me to start running!  So it was easy to include LifeSource​ as one of the #50for50 organizations I wanted to support. Read about Mason's Home Run and consider supporting others in need of an organ transplant at LifeSource (include “Chris George 50 for 50” in the ‘What Inspired You’ section).  

Read about Mason's Home Run 

PS: Everyone can be an organ donor and it's easy to register.

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Giving is easy!  Just click on one of the links below to make a gift in honor of 

“Chris George’s 50 for 50 Challenge”.

• Capstrong (Paypal site, include “Chris George 50 for 50” in the notes section)

• LifeSource (include “Chris George 50 for 50” in the ‘What Inspired You’ section)

• Make-A-Wish Minnesota

• Kyle Rudolph’s End Zone Programming (University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital)

• Feeding America

THANK YOU!! 

A huge thanks to all who have already donated to my #50for50 challenge.  In 10 days, the 5 charities have received nearly $5,000 (100 gifts of $50).  

I'm completely overwhelmed by your generosity and support.   The gifts were a great motivation on my 15 mile training run through Lebanon Hills last Saturday.  Its only six weeks until I Surf the Murph and am looking to receive

400 more gifts of $50 to achieve the goal of raising $25,000.  

Giving is easy!  Just click on one of the links below to make a gift in honor of 

“Chris George’s 50 for 50 Challenge”.

• Capstrong (Paypal site, include “Chris George 50 for 50” in the notes section)

• LifeSource (include “Chris George 50 for 50” in the ‘What Inspired You’ section)

• Make-A-Wish Minnesota

• Kyle Rudolph’s End Zone Programming (University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital)

• Feeding America

Each week, starting this Sunday, I'm going to highlight one of organizations I'm running to support. I'll share personal stories on why I've chosen to support them and the impact your gift will make.  

Enjoy your weekend!!!  

#capstrong #50for50

@lifesourcemndak @makeawishmn  @MHFChildrens @FeedingAmerica 

@surfthemurph 

 ,

#50for50

Hello family, friends, and colleagues!!

In just a few weeks, I’ll be celebrating my 50th birthday! Over the past year and a half, I’ve put a lot of thought into how to celebrate this milestone.  Over the past few years, so much has changed in my life:  my amazing nephew, Cap George, and my mother, Katie (Tete) George, both became angels after battling cancer; my son, Mason received the gift of life and a Wish; and we have all been living through the pandemic. One constant during this time has been running.  

On Memorial Day, fifteen years ago, I watched the Bolder Boulder 10K from my couch with Mason on my lap and made a commitment to change my lifestyle to be healthier.  I made a commitment to run the Bolder Boulder and did my first mile “run” - which consisted of jogging a block and walking a block.  I think I finished a mile in a blistering 13 minutes.  🤪, but the next year I ran my first 10K, the Bolder Boulder, and haven’t looked back.  Since that first run I’ve completed numerous 5Ks, 10Ks, 10Ms, a handful of half-marathons, and the DisneyWorld marathon.  During the pandemic, I’ve averaged 50 miles of running a month and am ready to do something special to celebrate my 50th birthday.   

I’m going to run my first ultramarathon, a 50K on October 23, 2021 and am hoping to also complete the January 2023 RunDisney Dopey Challenge.  The Dopey Challenge consists of running 50 miles over 4 days:  a 5K, 10K, Half-Marathon, and Marathon. But I’m not done... 

...and here is where you come in.  I want to raise $25,000 for 5 charities ($5,000 each) that are near and dear to me. 

The charities that I’m supporting are:

• Capstrong

• LifeSource

• Make-A-Wish Minnesota

• Kyle Rudolph’s End Zone (Univ. of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital)

• Feeding America

I see $25,000 as a BHAG (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal), but when you break it down, it is only 500 gifts of $50 to celebrate my 50 for 50 challenge.  Together I believe that it can be done.  

To kick things off, I’ve made a gift of $100 to each of the five charities, so I’m looking to my family, friends, and colleagues for an additional 490 gifts of $50.  Will you join me on my 50 for 50 challenge and make a $50 gift to one of the charities? If you are inspired and walk to make more than one gift, please do so!!! 😁   I’ll do all the running and keep you in the loop on my progress to raise $25,000 over the next year.  

Giving is easy!  Just click on one of the links below to make a gift in honor of 

“Chris George’s 50 for 50 Challenge”.

• Capstrong (Paypal site, include “Chris George 50 for 50” in the notes section)

• LifeSource (include “Chris George 50 for 50” in the ‘What Inspired You’ section)

• Make-A-Wish Minnesota

• Kyle Rudolph’s End Zone Programming (University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital)

• Feeding America

If you are still not sure about giving, be on the lookout for additional posts/emails as I’m going to share the story on why each of these charities are important to me.  I hope that my stories will resonate and inspire you to give in support of my 50 for 50 challenge.  

Thank you!! Chris