About Me

If there is one major thing I’ve learned to live by it would be to never take anything in life for granted. My life has always been full of some kind of adventure. Whether when I was ski racing as a youngster, looking for jobs, moving away to college, or any various kayaking trip. A day on the river reinvigorates my lust for life and I understand why Brad Ludden chose to use kayaking as the tool to help young cancer survivors around the nation.

After seeing Ryan Sutter complete his 101010 challenge, it became apparent that I could, and needed to do more in helping First Descents reach young cancer survivors. This coming spring of 2011 I will be graduating from Northern Michigan University and heading out on a nation-wide quest that will undoubtedly be more challenging than any river I have run in the past. I am pledging to kayak 50,000 vertical feet in six months to raise money for First Descents. Our goal is to send 50 young adults to the camp of their choice. 

As the manager of Alpine Kayak School in Edwards, Colo., I have been on the water with First Descents campers for the past 5 years. The “never take anything in life for granted” motto is redefined with this incredible program. The experience of pushing campers outside of their comfort zone and seeing what great things they are capable of doing was enough to make me again realize that I needed to do more.

The goal, although beneficial to so many, will not be an easy fire to burn. In order to reach 50,000 vertical feet I will have to push myself mentally and physically by dropping 278 vertical feet every day over six months. There will unquestionably be days that I won’t be able to reach this number and others where I must exceed it by paddling some of the most technical and taxing whitewater in the country.

Although I have been fortunate enough to not feel the personal pains and struggles of such a harrowing disease, I have seen how a day on the river can transform a patient back to a person. How a day on the river can be empowering, and how a day on the river can banish a sad story with a good experience.

The cost of sending a camper through the program is around $1,000. Please help me send 50 campers to First Descents by sharing the 50/50 challenge with those who can help or by donating here to First Descents. If you're unable to donate please tell a friend. To find out more about my doings and the 50/50 Vertical Challenge visit my website www.kayakingRoss.com, follow me on Twitter and Facebook, or help by reposting and sharing this cause with everyone you know.