Adam “Jester” Grossman's 2019 “Today We Ride For Veterans” Ski Fundraising Challenge

Family and Friends:

Last year, with your support the Downhill Derelicts once again beat our fundraising goal, helping us donate a combined two-year total of over $55,000 to the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program! Those funds have been used to help Whistler Adaptive introduce individuals with disabilities to sport, recreation and therapeutic sport programming.

One dimension of Whistler Adaptive’s program that’s especially important to me is their support of Veterans. This year, funds we raise will be specifically directed to programs and activities focused on Veterans and first responders through Whistler Adaptive’s life-changing Hawkes Program. Last year, Whistler Adaptive introduced us to Ben Meade, a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from debilitating PTSD. Ben’s experience with Whistler Adaptive had such a profound effect on him that he was inspired to establish the Hawkes Program in honor of the memory his best friend and fellow veteran, Jeff Hawkes. The Hawkes Program focuses on the rehabilitation of disabled Military, First Responders, EMT, and Fire veterans through adaptive sports. The Hawkes program specifically addresses the needs of those with spinal cord injuries, orthopedic amputations, visual impairments, mental health and neurological injuries.

Through the Hawkes program, Ben’s work with fellow veterans and first responders has been remarkable and he’s helped dozens of heroes along their journey of recovery to move beyond trauma an on towards fulfillment and happiness. Ben also honored all of us Derelicts by joining our ski fraternity last year!

This year, I’m asking you to sponsor me again in my quest to win the 2019 ‘Today We Ride’ Challenge in which I am competing against 40+ other skiers and snowboarders to raise the most funds. You can support my campaign by pledging just 1-cent ($0.01) per 100-vertical feet I ski during the five-day ski-a-thon. You can also opt to make a one-time flat donation. Depending on your tax deduction objectives, one-time donations are tax-deductible immediately and a pledge will be calculated and effective as of March 17, 2018. Regardless of your option, I pledge to earn every penny we raise with sweat, grit, and I’m sure some aches and pains.

++Examples of pledge calculations:++

• (1-cent per 100-vertical feet) X (100,000 vertical feet skied) = $10.00 pledge

• (1-cent per 100-vertical feet) X (120,000 vertical feet skied) = $12.00 pledge

• (5-cent per 100-vertical feet) X (100,000 vertical feet skied) = $50.00 pledge

Follow my fundraising progress on the Today We Ride Challenge leaderboard. Once again, thank you so much for your support and generosity!

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Examples of pledge calculations:

· ($0.02 per 100-vertical feet) x (100,000 vertical feet skied) = $20 donation

· ($0.05 per 100-vertical feet) x (120,000 vertical feet skied) = $50 donation

· ($0.10 per 100-vertical feet) x (100,000 vertical feet skied) = $100 donation

· ($0.25 per 100-vertical feet) x (100,000 vertical feet skied) = $250 donation