Tag: Banff Lake Louise Tourism

For The Kidney Foundation. What a Feeling…

After a wonderful 7 days of hiking, $25,000 goes to The Kidney Foundation of Canada!
After a wonderful 7 days of hiking, $25,000 goes to The Kidney Foundation of Canada!

This morning I awoke in my apartment. It’s a bit of a change from the many days spent being pampered by Fairmont. Did Banff’s Big Mountain Challenge come and go, just like that? It sure did. And I know that it did because I’m ridiculously tired!

After our second attempt at Mount Temple and our successful ascent of Mount Eiffel, Dan and I transferred back to Banff. The last hike of the challenge was Sulphur Mountain, which is iconic for having the Banff gondola ride to the summit. On Monday morning, we were quite stoked that we had made it to the final hike. Only one more hike. A much shorter hike than Cascade, or Fairview and Saddleback, or the Tea House Challenge, or Sentinel Pass, or Mount Eiffel. One more hike and The Kidney Foundation of Canada would receive a cheque for $25,000. It was a good feeling.

To the Sulphur Mountain summit. The last hike in the challenge.
To the Sulphur Mountain summit. The last hike in the challenge.

The morning was filled with much excitement. A few friends made their way to Banff to join us for the final hike, and it was all hellos and hugs as we gathered at the trailhead. Global TV was on hand to film parts of the trek for a segment, and Jeff from Banff Lake Louise Tourism would accompany us to document the journey to the summit. Paul from Parks Canada was our guide, stopping occasionally to tell us about Sulphur Mountain, as well as the flora and fauna of the area. As always, there was lots of fun and laughter… and it was educational! Sulphur Mountain was more intense than I thought it would be due to its steady incline and many switchbacks, but we all persevered.

As we neared the top of Sulphur, the group of us gathered, ready to walk the remaining few metres together.  I won this contest because of the support of many people, so it was quite symbolic to have a bit of an “entourage”, as we joked :). This contest was also never about just Dan and I. Yes, we did get to hike in the mountains for a week and enjoy the comforts and luxuries offered by Fairmont, but it was all to experience the beauty of Banff and Lake Louise and to tell others about how amazing these areas are, while keeping the ultimate goal in mind: supporting The Kidney Foundation of Canada. We reached the summit to the sounds of cheers and much applause. I knew there would be an event at the summit, but I don’t think I was quite expecting to feel so overwhelmed and so much joy at the end of the hike. I was even caught saying “Oh my God…” on camera! Stuart Hart, Director of Sales & Marketing Development at Banff Lake Louise Tourism, was there to lead the closing ceremony. The mayor of Banff, Karen Sorensen, was also there, as well as representatives from Brewster Travel Canada, Fairmont, Parks Canada, Global TV, Banff Crag & Canyon, and The Kidney Foundation. Some tourists were also present for the hoopla, taking photos and offering their congratulations.

Me holding a cheque for $25000! (Note: It's not the real cheque... :D)
Me holding a cheque for $25000! (Note: It’s not the real cheque… :D)

Stu began his speech by thanking the sponsors, the media, and Dan and myself for a successful and rewarding event. There were many congratulations, hand shakes, and happy faces. It was an indescribable feeling to be standing there with friends, supporters and onlookers. We had just completed something amazing… something big; I knew that much. But I think I was a little beside myself the whole time. A huge thank you to all involved in putting this contest together, and to those present at the closing ceremony. It was then time for a photo op and the presentation of the cheque. I had heard through the grapevine that there would be a massive cheque, and there was!! This was extremely cool. I’ve seen on TV when people are presented with gigantic abnormally sized cheques for grandiose things, so it was quite awesome to help Stu hand over a cheque for $25000 to Diane Kashuba, Manager, Communications for The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Southern Alberta branch. (Actually, because of everyone’s kindness, the total raised/matched/won was $26,762. Incredible!) Once the presentation concluded, there were several media interviews with Global TV, Banff Crag and Canyon, and The Calgary Herald. It was all smiles for everyone involved.

Being interviewed by Global TV's Jayme Doll
Being interviewed by Global TV’s Jayme Doll
Jeff from The Real Banff and I posing for a photo
Jeff from The Real Banff and I posing for a photo

I’ve been sitting here for a while, trying to reflect on the entire experience. I’m thinking about that initial e-mail from Dan informing me about the contest; the excitement of gaining votes for the competition; coming in second place, but then, by a twist of weird fate, being announced the winner; watching the amazing generosity and support for The Kidney Foundation during the donation phase; living in luxury at the Fairmont Banff Springs and Chateau Lake Louise; the incredible amount of hiking (about 65 km and 7 memorable hikes) I was able to do over seven days; all of the media attention; sharing this amazing experience with my good friend Dan; and reaching the summit of Sulphur Mountain, great friends by my side, and watching The Kidney Foundation receive a cheque for $25,000. Something that started so small with the submission of a photo turned into something so much more. I’ve met new people, either in person or via social media, and these encounters have moved me the most. It’s a pretty surreal feeling when I hear that someone has received two transplants before, and she is so happy that I’m helping raise awareness about organ donation and The Kidney Foundation; or when someone e-mails me to tell me that she has recently been diagnosed with kidney disease and that she is scared, but it makes her feel better knowing that there are individuals out there helping to combat this disease… and she’s referring to me as one of those individuals. I’ve come to know a mother who lost her son to kidney disease on the day of his scheduled transplant. She has honored her son’s exceptional life by creating a foundation in his name. How could I not be a little bit changed after this contest? The Big Mountain Challenge has occupied my mind for about three months, and I have to say it has been one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had, and unlike anything I’ve experienced before. I never enter contests, and so, I never win contests, ha! I’ve now been reminded that anything is possible. I really don’t know how to thank everyone who supported me, Dan, the Big Mountain Challenge, and The Kidney Foundation of Canada, except by saying a sincere “Thank You” :). This experience would not have been possible without you.

Rick

Thanks everyone for supporting Dan and I!
Thanks everyone for supporting Dan and I!

The Challenge Starts Tomorrow!

Cascade Mountain, from Banff Avenue. Credit: Real Banff

It’s the afternoon of Sunday August 26th. My condo is covered with clothes and hiking gear that I will be taking on the big trip. My camera is being charged, pop tunes are playing, and I’m taking a break from packing to drink some coffee, rest my injured foot, and write this posting.

Tomorrow, Banff National Park’s Big Mountain Challenge begins. I’m so excited about this! It’ll be great to see Dan when he flies in at 11 am, and then we’ll head to Banff to begin this big adventure.

As I sit here, I can’t help but reflect on this entire process. To be honest, I didn’t really think I’d have a shot at winning this challenge when this whole endeavor started. It was on June 12th when Dan sent me the following e-mail:
“YES YES YES YES YES
Are these mountains we could climb?”
Sometimes our e-mails are this short, yes. Well, this looks interesting, I thought. The article starts by saying that tourism officials in Banff are looking for an avid hiker with a big heart. I remember joking- “Ha! I’m an avid hiker… and I have a big heart!” To enter the contest, entrants needed to submit a photo explaining how they would prepare for the big challenge. Dan and I thought it would be a good idea if I entered, and we would both pool whatever resources we could to try and win this contest. Dan, being an active blogger/tweeter/FBer, would use his social networking and blogging power to gather support for my entry, and I would try to do the same. Friends Paul and Turin helped me choose the photo, and after coming up with the tag line on how I was preparing for the challenge (“By singing showtunes to keep the bears away!”), I would have about 6 weeks to get as many votes and comments as I could to support my campaign. If I won the contest, up to $25,000 would go to The Kidney Foundation of Canada, the charity of my choice.
My contest entry
I began to see the support for me and this contest almost immediately. Friends, family and colleagues were very supportive. The votes came in; comments were posted to the Banff National Park FB page saying that I should win, and that the donation should go to The Kidney Foundation of Canada. People were voting whenever they could. Strangers sent me messages about how it was a great thing to be doing this for The Kidney Foundation- people who I had never met, but who were living with kidney disease, or had family members who did, or were recipients of kidney transplants, or who lost family members on the waiting list, or who were newly diagnosed and were scared. A contest that began as “I love hiking” quickly turned into something more. The support quickly put me in first place in the voting.
I thought my vacation to Peru would derail my campaign a bit. I knew I wouldn’t have internet access, but people came to my rescue. Robbie was a huge support throughout this. His efforts would bring The Kidney Foundation on board, and they began posting on their national FB and kidney march pages to garner attention for the contest and gather support. Even though I was dropping in the ranks, my online presence was always strong.
When I came back from Peru, my first media gig happened. I was asked to discuss the Big Mountain Challenge and talk a little bit about my charity on Global Calgary. It was an incredible experience! Robbie and I went to the studio and it was so cool to see how the morning news was produced. To say I was nervous is an understatement, and I was literally shaking on TV (though people probably didn’t notice). I ended the interview, thankful for the opportunity, but hoping it was the last, ha! It was just so nerve-wracking. The general consensus was that it was great, but I was much more serious on camera than usual!
When the contest closed on July 27th, I was 6th place in the votes. The fine print for the contest did emphasize that votes and comments are ‘strongly’ considered by the judging panel, and that they did not determine the winner. So I figured I had a good shot at winning, but there were some great entries, very strong campaigns, and incredible charities in the mix. It seemed like it could be anyone’s contest to win. When August 3rd rolled around and I was announced as a Top 10 finalist but not the winner, I was sad, mainly because I would have loved to see The Kidney Foundation win the $25,000.  Many people told me that I was still a winner in their eyes, having brought so much awareness about kidney disease and for placing so high out of 719 entries. That made me feel better :). Kidney disease is one of those ‘silent’ diseases that oftentimes presents itself once the kidneys have already failed. I knew from talking with family and friends that, at the very least, some people learned something about kidney failure. I sent my congratulations to the winner, and then went away for the weekend. 
How things in life can change pretty quickly. On Tuesday, August 7th, I received a call from Banff Lake Louise Tourism, informing me there were some eligibility issues with the winner, and that I was the new winner! What crazy news! I was outside of my building, jumping up and down. I’m sure people were watching me, but I didn’t care. I was soooo excited! Once I called Dan to let him know, he first asked “Are you kidding me?”. Of course I wasn’t. I never call Dan, so why would I call to joke about something like this? He was shocked and super excited. I asked him, “Are you still available August 27th – September 4th?” He replied that he would do whatever it took to get the time off and be here. I think we’re both still thinking this whole thing is surreal. 
Since August 7th, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind. I was in contact with the fundraising department at The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Southern Alberta branch. They set up a fundraising page that explained that the fundraising was part of the Big Mountain Challenge. Friends, family, colleagues and supporters began donating immediately. Our goal was to raise $5000 within 2 weeks, and Banff Lake Louise Tourism would match, dollar-for-dollar, any amount we made up to $5000. I’ve never fundraised for anything before, so I was quite nervous about this part. The afternoon of August 13th, the donation page went live. By August 17th, we had surpassed $5000 in donations. At times, I was speechless. I couldn’t believe how fast the money had come in. What can you say to everyone who backed me up in this contest since June 12th? How do you thank them for tolerating the many e-mails and Facebook updates? And now, how could I express to everyone how incredible it is to be part of an effort that raised more than $5000 in less than 5 days? I’m still reeling from this, and will continue to say Thank You to everyone as much as I can. 
That first Global Calgary interview would not be my only media experience. Since then, I had a live phone interview with The Morning Show on Global Toronto; was in Calgary’s Metro News, the Milton Champion, the Libin Institute blog, on the University of Calgary’s Utoday and main webpage, and the Faculty of Medicine’s News Digest. I’ve done radio interviews with QR77, Mountain FM, and the CBC Eyeopener.  It’s all been about promoting Banff and Lake Louise, as well as talking about The Kidney Foundation and how people can donate. I’ve been enjoying all of the media for what it is, and it’s been very exciting, though part of me is looking forward to it dying down a bit :). 
Milton Champion. Anyone tired of this photo yet?? 🙂
By August 22nd, when the fundraising link closed, we had raised $6,762. Once the hikes are completed by Labour Day (September 3rd), The Kidney Foundation will receive $26,762. Absolutely incredible.
Yay!
I am so grateful for all of the experiences that have occurred since this contest began, and this is not something I take for granted by any means. Starting tomorrow, Dan and I are about to start the final phase of the contest- the trip to Banff and Lake Louise, and hiking the three mountains: Cascade Mountain, Mount Temple, and Sulphur Mountain. For me, Banff and Lake Louise aren’t too far away, but they are amazing parts of Alberta, and of the world, really. The scenery there is stunning, and I’m amazed by the beauty every time I go. This will be no different. The itinerary is pretty packed:
The Fairmont Banff Spring Hotel. Credit: Real Banff
August 27: Arrive in Banff and check in to The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
August 28: Classic Hike #1- Cascade Summit (10 – 12 hours)
August 29: Willow Stream Spa Day at the Banff Springs
August 30: Transfer to Lake Louise and check in to The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Lake Louise Shoreline Stroll with a Heritage Guide.
August 31: Classic Hike #2- Temple Summit (10 – 12 hours)
September 1: Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House, and have lunch with the owner!
September 2: Transfer to Banff and check in to The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Willow Stream Spa Day #2 🙂
September 3: Class Hike #3- Sulphur Summit (1.5 hours), followed by a photo opportunity and press event! (This includes Julie Canning, President & CEO from Banff Lake Louise Tourism, and Stuart Hart, Director of Sales & Marketing Development, for the cheque presentation; and Global TV, Banff Crag & Canyon, The Rocky Mountain Outlook, The Calgary Herald and The Calgary Sun for photo opportunities and interviews! Wow!)
September 4: Dan flies home and I return to Calgary
The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Credit: Real Banff
So I just looked at the time, and I should really get back to packing. Nothing has moved in the last 2 hours, and my suitcase is still empty. There will be more opportunities to write during the trip, and I’ll definitely be posting photos. I look forward to seeing what the next week brings. I wish I could bring everyone who helped me out with this contest! First up- Cascade Mountain on Tuesday. So excited…

I’m Still in Shock!

I WON!!

Today’s posting was supposed to be about my lovely weekend away, but today I was thrown for a bit of a loop. It was all good news though! Here is an e-mail I wrote and sent earlier, which I will post here as my blog entry 🙂
*****
So life really is a funny thing. On Friday I had sent around an e-mail informing you that I had made the top 10 of the Big Mountain Challenge. I was trying to raise up to $25000 for The Kidney Foundation of Canada, and I was so close!
Well, today I received a call from Banff Lake Louise Tourism. Due to some eligibility requirements, the winner who was competing to win for Doctors Without Borders was ineligible. It’s unfortunate for Doctors Without Borders, which is a great charity. It’s also too bad for the winner from Ontario who I know was looking very forward to travelling to Banff and Lake Louise to experience the awesome landscape we have out here.
With that said, though… can you guess why they called me?!
I’m happy to announce that I am the WINNER of the Big Mountain Challenge!!! I’m still in shock over this news!
I had an idea that I ran a great campaign, thanks to social networking, a Global TV news segment and all of your support! I reached a vast number of people and spread the word about The Kidney Foundation of Canada and The Big Mountain Challenge. But to be told that I was, without a doubt, the contestant to give the former winner a run for that money!… well, that’s pretty cool :).
Thank you again, everyone, for your help and support! Since sending the e-mail on Friday, I’ve had many kind e-mails and messages about how it was amazing to bring awareness to kidney disease and The Kidney Foundation of Canada, and how happy and proud you were that I made the top 10! Thank you for reminding me that that feat was a huge accomplishment on its own.
By a twist of fate, it turns out- I made the Top 1! 😀
So what happens next?
1) Well, I’ve now secured $15000 for The Kidney Foundation of Canada. YAY! This is an AMAZING feeling.
2) Over the next two weeks, I will be running an intense fundraising campaign to raise up to $5000. I will say in advance that helping me get to this point has been incredible. Now I turn the focus away from me winning the challenge, and over to The Kidney Foundation of Canada. Any amount I can raise will truly benefit this amazing organization, so I encourage you to donate with as much (or as little) as you can. Any amount helps. I will be sending around further information on this once I set up the fundraising page. For every amount (up to $5000) that I raise, Banff Lake Louise Tourism will match it! And that’s how we’re going to get to $25000 for The Kidney Foundation of Canada!!
3) After that, I’m going to get into the best shape as I can, because I will have a week (starting August 27th) to hike Sulphur Mountain, Cascade Mountain, and Mount Temple. They are EPIC, but I know I will be able to do this. Here is a link that I found about Mount Temple, the most difficult of the three. The elevation gain is 1690 metres. It is rated as a difficult hike and is estimated to take anywhere between 8 and 12 hours. Climbing helmets and an ice axe are recommended. It is one of the highest peaks in the Lake Louise area. I’m super excited.
4) The prize also involves enjoying the Banff and Lake Louise areas. I’m always trying to encourage people to visit out this way, and now I’ll be able to entice them even more by experiencing the area a bit more. The winner and a guest receive:
– Round trip airfare to Calgary with transport to Banff National Park
– Eight nights in the Fairmont Banff Springs and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
– Spa treatments at a spa at The Fairmont Banff Springs
– A Certified Mountain Guide for Mount Temple and Cascade mountain, and a Parks Canada guide for Sulphur Mountain
– A Parks Canada Discovery Pass
My friend Dan from Guelph, Ontario will be flying out here as my guest, and he will join me in conquering these mountains. Dan brought this contest to my attention and has been supporting the campaign the whole way through, so it’ll be nice that he’s able to have Banff Lake Louise Tourism fly him out here for the challenge.
So I’m super stoked, but that’s only phase one of the challenge! Thanks again everyone… you’ll be hearing from me again 🙂
Regards,
Rick

My 3 Minutes 24 Seconds of Fame!

So I’m incredibly behind on my blog postings. I mean, I returned from Peru almost 2 weeks ago and haven’t even uploaded photos or written about it! Alas, that can wait.

Even while I was away, I was trying to win the Big Mountain Challenge. When I found a wi-fi connection, I was voting. I knew it would be difficult to maintain the momentum while I was in Peru, but thankfully I had some friends who helped me out by posting voting reminders on my FB. They also posted to the Banff National Park and The Kidney Foundation of Canada FB pages. When I returned home after Peru, the goal of winning the challenge continued. It was time to send out as many e-mails as possible, and post everywhere I could. Then on Thursday of last week, I received an e-mail. It read:
“Hi Rick,
Thanks for entering the Big Mountain Challenge and congrats on having a top entry! Banff  Lake Louise Tourism is trying to spread the word about the contest and our partner Global Calgary wants to interview an Alberta contestant on the morning show. If you’re interested in doing either a phone or in-studio interview this could be a great way to get some votes and raise awareness for the Kidney Foundation.”

For real?! So I e-mailed them back right away. Before I knew it, I had an in-studio interview with Global Calgary scheduled for Saturday morning at 8:24 am where I would be speaking to one of the anchors of the morning news show. Through the help of my boss, I was in contact with communications staff from the The Kidney Foundation of Canada to go over some speaking points. Then I spoke with news anchor Bindu Suri to go over the questions. I couldn’t believe how quickly it was all happening! 


Arriving for my interview. So nervous!

I arrived at the studio early on Saturday accompanied by Robbie, who came for support :). It was really neat to see the studio and watch how the morning news was filmed. I was quite surprised to see how much of the set is a green screen! I always thought there was a little bit of an actual background. Before I knew it, I was being fitted with the microphone and was awaiting the interview with news anchor Reid Fiest. To say that I was nervous is an understatement. I was literally shaking! But thankfully my nerves didn’t show too much on camera 🙂 Also, I started getting sick a day prior, and I was terribly worried that I would cough or clear my throat on camera. It could have been disastrous! But thankfully, that didn’t happen either. Here’s the segment:





In the end, yes, it was a short clip on the Global Calgary morning show. However, it was so exciting and it was a great experience. I spoke about the contest and how much I love the Banff and Lake Louise areas, and I was able to bring a bit of awareness to The Kidney Foundation of Canada and all of the support it provides to Canadians affected by kidney disease. Also, when I was preparing for the interview and discussing points with The Kidney Foundation, I was amazed with the level of support I had, whether it was from the staff at The Kidney Foundation, or through comments of support on Facebook from individuals affected by kidney disease. I really hope to win the contest, but if the prize is awarded to another person and another charity, I know it will be for a great cause and that I gave it my all.  Whether or not I win, my support for The Kidney Foundation of Canada doesn’t end there :). For more information on The Kidney Foundation of Canada, go to www.kidney.ca. For information on the Kidney March, a 100km 3-day walk to fight kidney disease, go to kidneymarch.ca.


*****************************************
Please help me win the Big Mountain Challenge
for The Kidney Foundation of Canada!
Vote for me EVERY DAY (until July 27, 2012)
by clicking here: http://t.co/scxG735u
*****************************************


The Big Mountain Challenge- Vote for me!

https://www.facebook.com/banffnationalpark


It’s been over a week since I entered the Big Mountain Challenge, sponsored by Banff Lake Louise Tourism. Thanks to EVERYONE who has supported me with this so far- your votes and encouraging words have been amazing! It’s no secret that I’m huge into hiking in the Canadian Rockies. Well, the winner of this contest, along with a friend, will summit 3 EPIC peaks within 7 days, all in the name of a charity. Those peaks are Mount Temple, Cascade Mountain, and Sulphur Mountain. From what I know, they are all high and challenging mountains, and I have yet to hike any of them! Even though ice axes and helmets may be required, I’m up for the challenge 🙂 The great thing about the contest is that it’s for charity: the winner will receive $15000 for a charity of their choosing. Every amount raised by the winner will be matched, up to $5000. So, potentially, that’s $25000 for charity! Woah!

As for the charity: given my work in kidney disease research, I have decided to hike for The Kidney Foundation of Canada. Kidneys are important for regulating water, removing wastes, filtering blood and producing hormones… so you can imagine what happens if they begin to fail. The Kidney Foundation of Canada continues to provide leadership for kidney health and improve the lives for all Canadians affected by kidney disease. It’s definitely an amazing organization.
Help me win for The Kidney Foundation of Canada!
The first step is to be chosen, which is partially based on votes and comments. 
So humbly, if you’re reading this post, this is where I ask you to please vote for me and help me win Big Mountain Challenge. All you need to do is click on this link and click on the “Vote Now” button:
(***In fact, you may click on this link EVERY DAY until July 27th to give me as many votes as possible! ***)
Or, you can “Like” the following page and add comments that you want me to win!

Vote for me! Please click HERE.

If you’re wondering what the tag line of the photo is all about, it’s in response to the question: “How are you getting ready to prepare for the challenge?” By singing show tunes to keep the bears away…. obviously. I do like to sing….
I did have the most votes for a while, but at the time of writing this, I have the second most votes. Thankfully, having the most votes does not result in winning. The winner is chosen based on what the judging panel is looking for, but votes and comments of support are STRONGLY considered. So keep clicking that “Vote Now” button and leaving comments when you can. Let’s hope I win! *fingers crossed*

Thanks for reading and let’s keep those votes coming!
Rick