Why CARH?

I've had a couple of people ask me why I decided to use this trip as an opportunity to raise money for CARH, so I thought I might as well spell it out here.

I decided early on that I wanted this trip to be more than just a gigantic exercise in ego-gratification. There is of course a large measure of ego stroking in taking on something like this, but there is also the opportunity to do some good.

Raising money for charity seems to tie in quite nicely with big athletic endeavors. I've watched Team-in-Training raise millions of dollars over the years with the various Marathons and Triathlons they work with, so I figured I could raise some money as well.

I considered several charities and ultimately decided on CARH. I wanted the money that we raise through this trip to be used locally. I also wanted to help a smaller charity so that the amount raised would actually make a difference. There are many much-deserving organizations.

My family has been connected to CARH for a number of years. My Mom crochets slippers at Christmas time every year and donates them to CARH's clients. We have made donations over the years. The more I learned about the organiztion and the work they do, the more convinced I was that they were the proper group for me to sponsor. They are located right here in Castro Valley. They've been helping people for 35 years. And the work they do is entirely local to the Bay Area.

Their work with the elderly and mentally handicapped improves the quality of life for a segment of our society that is largely forgotten. They make a real difference in the lives of their clients. I'd encourage you to check out their website and newsletter for examples of the kinds of services they provide. See the link on the right side of the page if you'd like more information. I'm proud to be able to help out this deserving organization.