'Jack's' Letter

30 days... we have just 30 days left. It seems like we've been training forever yet at the same time, we wonder if we need more time to prepare. Regardless of what we think though, come July 16th, we will be on that mountain and climbing toward the top.

Throughout this great adventure, we have been so blessed to have our friends and family support us in every way. In addition, there is a specific individual that choose to support us that I'd like to tell you about. Please note, this was a personal letter to myself and Mandy and our wish in sharing it with all of you is that you find yourself as inspired as we were.

We have never met him, we have never spoken to him and yet, when he heard our story chose to believe in us. Remember back to when our climb was featured on the Ron and Don Show? We received two donations from a listener named 'Jack'... one in each of our names. We knew nothing more about this man or why he chose to donate to our team and this cause. We wanted badly to say thank you but there was nothing more than a name noted on the donation. A couple months went by before I found out that we actually had access to all of our online donor's email addresses. Immediately we wrote to 'Jack' simply wanting to say thank you. That very day we received an email back. I want to share this email with all of you:

Katie/Mandi-

Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm glad I could do something to help and I only which I could do more. I was very touched when you and Mandi shared your story on the radio. I lost my brother 'Brad' in 2005 to lung cancer, he was only 43 years old. I think about him ever day, especially now that I'm the same age as he was when he passed away. My brother was amazing, he never once said why me, he just focused on loving the people in his life to the fullest with the short time we had left. My brother would love what you are doing, he loved the outdoors and was always out hiking or fishing and just enjoying the great Northwest. I want you two to know that I find you both inspiring and I know that this journey you are on will forever change your lives. Sometimes we need to tackle what we think is impossible to really know that we are living. Please know that I will be thinking of you both in July and my brother and I will be rooting you both on. I really think this will transform how you approach the rest of your lives and I think you are both amazing and strong young women. Please keep me updated along the way and know every step you take is a step forward for all of us that care. As Don would say, keep your head up, your shoulders back and kick some ass!!! Go for it!!! -'Jack'

As we move into our final days of training, its too often that we complain about the long gym workouts, the sore muscles, the lack of time on the weekends, and the pure exhaustion of it all... We are on this amazing adventure and 'Jack's' words reminded us that long gym workouts are time given to prepare, the sore muscles are evidence of our growing strength, lack of time and exhaustion proof that we are getting this chance to live- really live- this gift of life.

k&m