Frank McKinney Takes on The Badwater Ultra Marathon for his 8th Time
If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”
~Henry David Thoreau
The Badwater Ultra Marathon has been recognized as one of the “toughest footraces on the planet” according to National Geographic magazine. This is not your average marathon. The legendary event is a destination for 100 of the world’s toughest athletes—runners, triathletes, adventure racers, and mountaineers—who compete against one another and the elements. Covering 135 miles (217km) non-stop from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA in temperatures up to 130F (55c), it is the most demanding and extreme running race offered anywhere on the planet. Sounds like a blast eeh?
Real Estate Mogul and 5-time Best Selling Author Frank McKinney ran for his 8th time this year! His motivation? His passion for his non-profit: The Caring House Foundation in Haiti. Since 2003 Frank along with many supporters of The Caring House Foundation have contributed $3.5M to building 20 self-sustainable villages in Haiti. Hence Frank’s popular quote: “Compassion without action is wasted emotion.”
When asked why he was running this grueling, even dangerous race for an 8th time, Frank’s response was “Suffering a little voluntarily, which is what I choose to do for those suffering a lot more involuntarily in Haiti, is why I headed back to the Badwater and Death Valley for an eighth time, in 2013.”
What does this have to do with the Mavericks you ask? Everything. On May 8-11 2013, a group of Mavericks along with hosts Yanik Silver, Hope To Haiti Director Scott Bonnell and Philanthro-capitalist Frank McKinney paid Haiti a little visit for the 3rd time. During the 2012 and 2013 trips, each traveler donated $4,900 for the three day trip to Haiti. That donation covered travel expenses and enough to fund the construction of a complete new home in Haiti. Another village is soon to be started with the donations from this 2013 trip. The Mavericks spent their time playing with children in an Orphanage and touring and dedicating Parish of the Cross: a new 50 house village partially funded by Mavericks.
At one point on this year’s trip, Frank McKinney pulled everyone together to tell them that the orphanage they had visited the day prior desperately needed funding assistance. To feed the 28 children, keep a simple roof over their little heads and provide a basic education runs $1,500 per month.
Frank asked if anyone in the group wanted to take on a months costs. As is typical, every one of the VERY GENEROUS Mavericks jumped up and provided between one and five months coverage for the orphanage. Director Scott Bonnell’s eyes teared up as he watched our team provide SIXTEEN MONTHS of full cost coverage for the orphanage, which included funding for new bunk beds and mattresses for all 28 children. Now this is what we call “doing it Maverick style.”
Anyone who can run an ultra marathon and still have a sense of humor….well that’s real strength! Check out a blip from an email Frank sent out recently:
“Here’s a very incriminating photo that I posted on FaceBook (5,000+ followers) with the following caption: “Although my daughter Laura and my wife Nilsa are going to kill me, if I were to start a band with Laura called ‘Ppeekk and the Speedo,’ this would be our album cover!” My daughter may have one photo with the “Maverick” logo showing…(yes, those are green Maverick speedos).
Way to be awesome Frank! To learn more about Frank’s experience at Badwater, check out this article that was published in Sport Spectrum.
Interested in going to Haiti and having a positive IMPACT on the people living there? Well get your calendars out, because Yanik, Frank and Doug just put the 2014 Maverick Haiti Trip down for May 14 – 17. For more information, contact Doug at doug@dougdoebler.com.
