We have met our Fundraising Goal!

A VERY Special thank you to everyone that has donated to the American Lung Association Climb for Clean Air - Team Younkin. We feel so supported, loved and inspired! Eight months ago we sat in a small little room with a fabulous group of people from the American Lung Association Seattle, "selling" us the experience of fundraising, training and ultimately attempting a summit of Mt. Rainier. Ryan and I just sat there grinning from ear to ear, squeezing each others' legs as Lou Whittaker spoke of this great cause and why he supports ALA. Several of last years' climbers shared their views of the fundraising and the climb, all of them saying the experience could not be put in words, it was so amazing. We sat and listened, trying to determine if we could be one of the 2010 climbers. After leaving the information meeting we knew we wanted to try this adventure out, but the risks were adding up quickly. After sleeping on the idea, we decided the summer of 2010 was not going to be lost again to working overtime and a myriad of other excuses preventing us from getting outdoors. After we agreed to sign up for this amazing cause and the unknowns of the adventure, I called dad to see if he wanted to join us. Without saying more than "This summer" and "Mountain", dad said "Sign me up!" Part of signing up for the adventure was agreeing with American Lung Association that our minimum amount to fundraise would be $10,500 between the 3 of us. While we had the task of fundraising we also were expected to start getting physically fit and mentally prepared to climb Mt Rainer at the end of July. In December we started fundraising and hiking. We hit the ground running with both tasks. Our emails and phone calls to family/friends was working better than we had anticipated; so many people were happy to support our team and the American Lung Association. While the fundraising was going well, the physical training was going even better; we were getting out to a trailhead at least once a weekend. At the end of March we thought we were doing so well with our fundraising that we changed our goal to $13,500. $3000 more! Whew, what were we thinking?! Once we reached the minimum goal of $10,500 in April we had two months of no donations, no website hits, and no response to emails. I have no idea what got our friends and family interested again, [maybe it was my umpteenth email and facebook post on the topic ;)] but in June and the first half of July we managed to raise our last $3000. It was such a blessing to open email and see another friend support us and our cause. I must say that for me the last month of donations have really touched my heart because as the day of the summit attempt gets closer, I am really getting nervous. Having our friends and family show their support is a great reminder that we can do this; I can do this, and it makes my nerves settle. So we have reached our fundraising goal, the accomplishment feels unbelievable. Neither Dad, Ryan or I, would have guessed that combined we could raise $13,500; especially in hard economic times, with all three of us in the same social/family circles. We are fully supported, physically fit and now working on being completely mentally prepared...

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!