Member To Climb Seven Summits for ONE

Today I’m heading to Argentina to begin climbing the first of the Seven Summits for ONE. As the team and I reach the peak of each mountain, we’ll plant the ONE flag on top, symbolically bringing each continent under ONE’s cause—to beat extreme poverty and disease.

Our adventure begins this morning when we fly to Mendoza, Argentina, to ascend Mt. Aconcagua. At 22,840 ft., this is the tallest mountain in the Americas, and the highest mountain in the world outside of Asia.

All of these climbs will take about two years to complete. My hope is that, by working with my partner Eddie, we will put together a series of programs that will allow students to get involved, whether by tracking my progress or establishing service projects in the mountains’ respective locations communities. Stay tuned as we get working on that—we will want ONE members’ involvement!

When I’m not furiously planning for the next two years of climbs, I spend my “free time” flying the F-22A Raptor supersonic stealth fighter. I’m a Lieutenant in the British Royal Air Force, and currently stationed at Langley Air Force base as Britain’s representative to fly this jet. While my day job isn’t exactly a walk in the park, I expect that these climbs will be an even greater challenge. After all, ending poverty and finding ways to save millions of lives around the world isn’t easy either.

I’m working with a team at Alpine Ascents to help me get up and, even more importantly, get down the mountain safely. We believe in what ONE is doing, and we want to do all that we can to raise awareness of these critical issues. I hope that you will join me checking out my blog at www.dan-robinson.com.

-Dan Robinson, ONE member

Tom Brady 15-0, and ONE

New England Patriots’ star Tom Brady sports a ONE shirt again for reporters. (Coverage today in my hometown New Hamshire paper The Foster’s Daily Democrat.)

ONE’s Ironman Returns Victorious

Our ONE Ironman, Vance Sutton, has returned to NV from the big race in Hawaii and I wanted to pass along some of his words about the experience.

Vance: Thanks for your heroic effort, and thank you for reminding us that there are thousands of unique ways to raise awareness about global poverty and disease.

-Matt Higginson, Nevada ONE Vote ‘08

“On the day of the race, the ocean was quite calm as it had been in previous days. The prayer offered by the local Hawaiians before the start was absolutely hair raising. It was at that point I realized; time waits for no one. I am 15 minutes away from the absolute biggest day of my sporting life–I am competing in the World Championship of triathlon.

I enter the water with 1800 of my fellow competitors. The water is warm, calm, and clear. Looking back at the crowds surrounding the bay was absolutely incredible. Thousands of them sitting on the sea wall that stretches for about ½ mile.

In the afternoon the wind really picks up on the island and blows right into your face as you crawl back home on the bike section. I wanted to quit so many times, but I kept thinking about the people who supported my efforts by donating $1 per mile to the ONE Campaign.

It got dark about 13 miles into the marathon and they hand you a glow stick that fits around your neck. It’s quite cool to see the glowing circles just bobbing up and down in the darkness from the other racers. Everything slows down mentally and you begin to realize that you’re going to finish…eventually…just keep going.

The last two miles were very interesting. Something inside my mind allowed me to run fast, actually quite fast. Once you begin to see people again and the lights of the city now guide your path, new strength kicks in. I finished strong. Running down the finishing chute is something I wish everyone could experience.

My marathon time was 5 hours and something. Total event time 14:26.

It was such a blessing to have the support of family, friends, and the ONE Campaign. It gave me such great satisfaction to use this race, that by it’s nature is very selfish and individualistic, to help raise awareness about an issue that is much larger than any ONE person.”

-Vance Sutton, Ironman and ONE member

Brady: Branded

ONE member Tom Brady wore his ONE shirt to a press conference at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA, today.

First question: “What’s your shirt mean?”

Watch the clip here.