Climb to the Top - A National MS Society Fundraiser

[nay]

I'm participating in a fundraiser for MS with an event next month at Rockefeller Center in NYC. I always feel so awkward asking people for money, but if you could make a donation, I would greatly appreciate it!! Thanks in advance for your support.

 

Here are the details with the formal donation request info:

 

On Sunday, February 28, 2010, I will be climbing 66 flights of stairs to the top of Rockefeller Center to raise money for the National MS Society at Climb to the Top. This year's goal is to raise $250,000 and I want to do my part to reach that goal. To make a donation on my behalf, you can simply visit my personal page (main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/Renee.Girard) or mail a check (made payable to "Climb to the Top") to:

 

National MS Society

Climb to the Top

P.O. Box 10123

Uniondale, NY 11555

 

Please make sure to put my name (Renee Girard) in the memo section of your check.

 

The National MS Society believes that moving is not just something you can or can't do but, rather, is who you are. Climb to the Top raises funds for critical research, as well as comprehensive programs and services for people with MS, moving closer toward a world free of MS. When you donate, you become a part of the powerful movement that is doing something about MS Now.

Edited March 2, 2010 by nay

[nay]

Thanks to those who have donated so far - I truly appreciate it!! I made my "goal" fairly low, because I know the economy still isn't great, and there are other causes to contribute to, such as to those in need in Haiti. But if you could contribute just a small amount, that would be amazing.

 

And I might even wear a TPR t-shirt for the event.

[nay]

Got any spare change leftover from the weekend? Feel free to use it towards a donation to the MS Society! Thanks SO much for the donations I have already received!!

A very rough draft of the shirt I might use for the stair-climbing event.

[SharkTums]

^LOL AWESOME! Love it!

 

You made our TPR Donation proud!

[haux]

May I ask why you chose MS? Do you have it or your mom? I'm curious. My dad had MS, so I'm interested.

[nay]

May I ask why you chose MS? Do you have it or your mom? I'm curious. My dad had MS, so I'm interested.

 

I was asked to do this by a friend, who knows that I do various endurance events. She has a close friend with MS, and I wanted to help her out as best as I could. Most events I do have participants from a variety of charities, but this one is specifically for MS.

[larrygator]

Hey Renee - Unfortunately, I have a friend battling MS, so you can count on my support.

 

I might look into doing this next year. I do enough stairs at the gym every night.

[nay]

^Thanks so much for your donation, Larry!

[nay]

Less than a month to go! Any amount you can donate would be awesome. Thanks again!!

[nay]

Just giving this post a bump. I truly appreciate all of the donations I've received so far!!

[nay]

With one week left 'til the event, I thought I would give this thread one last bump. Any last minute donations would be awesome. I've been doing lots of extra work on the stairmaster!

 

Thanks again!

 

[nay]

The event was this morning and it was awesome! Thanks to the donations I received, I was able to raise $725 for the National MS Society. So thank you all once again for that!

 

I climbed the 66 flights at Rockefeller Center in 16 minutes and 30 seconds. I loved it and would totally do an event like this again, hopefully also for this or another great charity.

 

Photo TR coming soon.

[moinab]

Great job! On to Disney, next weekend!

[nay]

Yup! I totally haven't trained in running over the past few weeks, but have done a ton of other cardio, so hopefully that'll be enough to get through the Princess half marathon.

 

Good luck!

[moinab]

Thanks! I've only run 3 miles, since running the breast cancer marathon, last Sunday. I've been fighting an upper respiratory infection.

 

 

Hoping and praying this cough disappears by tomorrow!

[nay]

^Oh no, I hope you feel better! At least the weather is looking good, even a bit on the cool side, for Sunday.

 

Here are some photos from the event.

 

Thanks again!!

Early morning at Rockefeller Center.

Ok, yeah. That's a lot of stairs to climb.

A big ass Christmas tree can be seen in the spot during the holiday season.

The plaza where the Today Show takes place was deserted.

No one ice skating here either.

It was nice to walk around that area without the crowds.

I guess we should go inside and climb some stairs now.

We had to wait on a few lines before getting to the stairs. We started out on the lower level.

Then we moved upstairs.

And then to the third level, where the stairs were waiting just around the corner.

More people were waiting on line below us.

The stair climb finally began. I expected it to be very crowded in there, but we were let in one at a time, and I saw maybe 10-15 people the entire time.

There were signs of encouragement on each flight.

26 flights? That's not so bad!

The staircase was fairly wide.

So close!

The finish line at the top.

Hooray, I made it!!

The top of the building.

A view of the Empire State Building and downtown Manhattan.

Looking north you can see Central Park.

A closer look at the snow-covered park.

The upper east side, with Queens behind it.

You can see Times Square down there, and New Jersey off in the distance.

Looking downtown on the east side, with the Chrysler Building hiding behind the MetLife Building.

The other side of the observation deck was empty.

Going down to the elevators and indoor observation area.

No one hanging out in here either.

Medical assistance was around, just in case.

And lots of water.

I chose the elevator instead of stairs to get back down.

Through the empty concourse to the exit.

Any event where eating is encouraged is fine with me.

Back outside, I noticed the new window display at the NBC store. Team Coco!!

The perfect ending to a race - cupcakes!

[SharkTums]

^What time was the actual event? They city seems so dead, yet it's light out! Looks wonderful!

 

Great job!

[nay]

It started at 6:30am, and I was scheduled to start at 7:35am but ended up going a little earlier. There were tourists gradually starting to appear when I left.

[ebl]

Great job! I really like your shirt.

 

Eric

[nay]

Thanks!

Here's a closer look at the "Take the Tunnel" shirt that I modified for the event.

[RCFreak]

hahaha I love how secretly nerdy that is! Awesome job raising funds, and awesome job finishing it!