30 years ago I met my buddy Kyle Pease at Buckhead Baseball in Atlanta. Kyle is an awesome guy; funny, kind, and an Atlanta sports nut just like me. I see Kyle often at the grocery store, the hospital, or at church, and his shining smile and personality are always bringing joy to others. Kyle is an inspiration to many, as he has spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, while also being an Ironman athlete. You see, Kyle races with his brother, Brent, and they swim, bike, and run together, as a team. In their career they have completed several incredible events, including the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. They are truly an inspiration.
Their foundation, the Kyle Pease Foundation (KPF), raises awareness and funds to provide (very expensive) custom-made racing equipment, provide logistical support needed for the races, and helps the families attend events in support their athletes. KPF allows these athletes the opportunity to experience the struggles, heartaches, and joy of completing endurance challenges and calling themselves Champions. I am honored and humbled to help raise support for KPF and have been given an absolutely incredible chance to do so, while continuing a life-changing effort of my own at the same time.
Over the last 9 months, I have rededicated my life to losing weight, improving my health, and setting big goals. I am currently down 140 pounds (and counting!), and in that effort have been given the chance to raise money while achieving an unreal physical goal - hiking over 29,029 vertical feet, or the equivalent of Mount Everest, in August of 2024 in Whistler, BC, Canada.
Your TAX-DEDUCTIBLE donation to the Kyle Pease Foundation will help me “take the next step” towards meeting my goal, and help propel me up the 8 consecutive laps of a 4-mile trail climbing up Blackcomb Mountain over the course of 36 hour next summer. If I can complete the 8 laps in 36 hours or less, I will receive a coveted Red Hat and can say I Everested.
Over the next few months, I will be sending emails periodically to all of my donors, with training stories of cool hikes I do, updates on my weight loss, and eventually real-time updates from the event next August. I appreciate your donation more than I can tell you, and if you cannot give right now, appreciate your love, prayers and support, and ask you to look into KPF and ways to support it, as it truly is an incredible cause.
Thank you, I love you, and always #keepgoing!!!
Matt
