Many of you have seen member Tom O’Connell training at the gym for his upcoming climb to basecamp at Mt. Everest.  Tom is requesting contributions for his climb in support of the Making Headway Foundation, which provides care and research for children and their families afflicted by brain and spinal tumors. Whippany Athletic Club has contributed $100 to this effort. To contribute to this important work, please go to https://mkghdwyf.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/FundraisingforMakingHeadway/PersonalFundraiserSignupFundraising/tabid/474496/Default.aspx?joinme=28713

This will be Tom’s third climb for charity.  In 2010, Tom traveled to southern Argentina to climb Mt. Aconcagua, which is the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere.  For that climb, he partnered with a group called Impact a Hero, which provides support for wounded servicemen and women and their families.  At that time the Veterans Administration was refusing to provide moneys to have a Christmas party for injured soldiers & families at Brooks Army Medical Hospital and Walter Reed Hospital.  With the help of folks at Fox & Friends, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Commissioner Tom Von Essen and Jimmie Johnson, they were able to reach a nationwide audience and raise $20,000 for this great cause.  In 2012, he climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, outside the capital city Moshi.  Working in conjunction with Claudio Reyna Foundation (CRF, where he serves on the Board of Directors), he raised money for CRF and for Amani House, an orphanage in Moshi.  CRF through the sport of soccer (The Beautiful Game) helps provide inner city children with educational, healthcare and nutritional opportunities.  He personally visited Amani House when he arrived in Africa, along with a duffle bag full of soccer equipment and uniforms as well as much needed funds. Tom said “meeting all those kids and seeing their faces light up when I poured about a half dozen soccer balls onto their field was one of the sweetest memorable moments I’ll ever have.” 

Tom would appreciate any financial support for Making Headway Foundation that you can provide. Please feel free to pass this on to anybody you think may also be able and willing to help in this endeavor.