Ezra Cooley is riding across the country on horseback, and then on around the world. The former rodeo and endurance rider is 27. He says he and his dad were riding one day, talking about really long rides; he started wondering if a ride around the world was possible. Sure it was! His trip will benefit a children's cancer charity, and will also be the adventure of a lifetime for him. Cooley calls Chico, California, home; he left it in April 2006. By the time he reaches Manhattan, he will have travelled about 5,000 miles. Only 22,000 more to go. (story: Wellsboro Gazette)
      
Last spring, I used my aquatic rehab time to raise money for a Mudcat-related project that was going on at the time. Skipy's efforts for MS are well known. Another thread ran recently about another Catter's project. So I've decided to let folks know about my own expanded efforts, which I call AquaBucks.

AquaBucks is people who are using aquatics for their own recovery and rehabilitation, and their sponsors who support their efforts by donating to charitible projects according to how much aquatic work is done.

AquaBucks is a very simple organization for doing a couple of good things:

1. Hooking up aquatic exercisers who are using water-based strategies regularly for serious recovery and/or rehabilitation;
2. Recruiting sponsors who will encourage aquatic exercisers by committing to donate a certain amount of money to a variety of identified charitable causes;
3. Highlighting the many benefits of various forms of aquatics for recovery and rehab.

All funds raised go directly to the charitable projects, with checks made out to the charity and not to me. Sponsors choose from the below calendar of charities, whose missions I publicize; or they may designate and publicize any project of their choice (such as Mudcat).

I'll be forwarding all proceeds directly to the supported charities without a stop in my bank account. Sponsors receive an acknowledgement from the charity, for their tax records. (I can provide verification and assistance.)

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2006

October-November 2006 Supported Project: There was a need that season that started the whole AquaBucks phenomenon: I wanted to help, but I had nothing to send. But I was working out so hard I thought it was like a Walkathon, so I asked others to support that. In 2007, in the very first months of AquaBucks, October and November sponsorships raised more than $200 for this fund!

December 2006 Supported Project: Kenner Court men's homeless shelter in Tioga, PA (part of the Valley area's United Christian Ministries). December sponsorship proceeds went to a fund in support of gifts for the men at Kenner Court. (This fund replaced an annual Christmas ministry I had coordinated among area parishes of a taking them a meal and gifts such as toiletries, underclothing, winter warmers, and stationery.) December sponsorships raised over $100 for this fund.


2007

May-June 2007 Supported Project:
All sponsorship proceeds will go to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports people in managing and surviving cancer. Lance's own battle with cancer and his amazing athletic successes have informed and inspired both me and my husband in our athletic programs. The Lance Armstrong Foundation unites people to fight cancer, offering information and services to help cancer survivors live life on their own terms, taking aim at the gaps between what is known and what is done in the cancer fight, and engaging people to make cancer a national priority. http://www.livestrong.org

July 2007 Supported Project:
All sponsorship proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life, St. Paul's Team. The team will use funds for team registration and/or direct donation to the ACS, at their discretion.
Mission: ... dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service. Relay For Life is an annual overnight event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money for research and programs of the ACS. Teams gather and take turns walking or running laps. Each team tries to keep at least one team member on the track at all times.
http://www.cancer.org

August 2007 Supported Project:
John Whitney Scholarship Fund, St. John's/Westfield PA.
The Reverend Canon John Whitney was a dear clergy friend. He was dedicated to education for ministry development; his last parish, St. John's, established a scholarship fund in his memory. FMI: 814-367-2245.

September 2007 Supported Project:
Lymphoma Research Foundation, to coincide with the annual Philadelphia Lymphomathon.
LRF's mission is to eradicate lymphoma and serve those touched by this disease. LRF is the nation's largest lymphoma-focused voluntary health organization devoted exclusively to funding lymphoma research and providing patients and health care professionals with critical information on the disease. http://www.lymphoma.org

October 2007 Supported Project:
National Stroke Association
Mission: to lower the incidence and impact of stroke by developing compelling community outreach programs, calling for continued improvement in the quality of stroke patient care, and educating both healthcare professionals and the general public about stroke. http://www.stroke.org

November 2007 Supported Project:
United Christian Ministries (Kenner Court Men's Homeless Shelter, Tioga)
Mission: emergency and transitional housing for men, women, families; food pantry; drug & alcohol and mental health counseling; eyeglasses; life skills program; case management and referral; GED and computer classes. FMI: 814- 258-7304.

December 2007 Supported Project:
United Christian Ministries (Women's Domestic Abuse/Homeless Shelter, Osceola)
Mission: emergency and transitional housing for men, women, families; food pantry; drug & alcohol and mental health counseling; eyeglasses; life skills program; case management and referral; GED and computer classes. FMI: 814- 258-7304.


2008

January 2008 Supported Project:
PSP~ Society for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
A neighbor of ours struggles with this condition. PSP-- Progressive supranuclear palsy-- is an under-recognized brain disease; symptoms typically begin in one's 60's, but can start as early as the 40's: gradual loss of certain brain cells causes slowing of movement and reduced control of walking, balance, swallowing, speaking and eye movement. People with PSP eventually become wheelchair bound or bedridden. Mission: to increase awareness of progressive supranuclear palsy, advance research toward a cure, educate health professionals and provide support, education and hope for persons with PSP and their families. http://www.psp.org

February 2008 Supported Project:
American Heart Association
Mission: to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. http://www.americanheart.org

March 2008 Supported Project:
American Red Cross Disaster Relief, Tioga County
Mission: to improve the quality of human life.... help people avoid, prepare for, and cope with emergencies... through services that are governed and directed by volunteers, consistent with Congressional Charter. http://www.redcross.org

April 2008 Supported Project:
MS Walk, National Multiple Sclerosis Society,
Central Pennsylvania Chapter
Multiple Sclerosis stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn't. The National MS Society is committed to building a movement by and for people with MS that will move us closer to a world free of this disease. http://www.nationalmssociety.org

May or June 2008 Supported Project:
Lance Armstrong Foundation
The Lance Armstrong Foundation unites people to fight cancer, offering information and services to help cancer survivors live life on their own terms, taking aim at the gaps between what is known and what is done in the cancer fight, and engaging people to make cancer a national priority. http://www.livestrong.org

May or June 2008 Supported Project:
Arthritis Foundation (Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis), Central PA Chapter.
The mission of the Arthritis Foundation is to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related diseases. http://www.arthritis.org

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Are you doing something similar? Or would you like to participate in any way?

~Susan