Worldwide WP 5k — For Alan!

Yep, it’s happening again!

WordPress, the site I use to host this blog, is doing their annual online 5k. It’s a physical event without a singular physical location; that is to say, you run/walk where you are, but through the magic of the internet, it’s one cohesive event.

I joined in a few years back, along with some of you–Dear Reader community–and then blogged about the results. But I haven’t joined the event for the last few years because I’m pretty bad at staying consistent with this whole social media thing. (Anybody remember when I used to do Humpday Hypothetical or Trivia Friday on Facebook? Yeah, me neither.)

But this year, it’s even more important to join in!

When I saw the WordPress announcement email, I thought of one person in particular–my US Air Force Academy classmate, Alan Martinez. He was hit by a drunk driver in 2012 and his recovery has been slow, but steady (like some of us on our 5ks). His family still needs our help. Here’s how we can step up:

The Worpress Worldwide 5k “runs” from now until Novemeber 1st. You can run or walk 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) anytime during this window and be part of the event. But get this: The Martinez family is already hosting a virtual charity run. So, as an online community, we get to run a race together for a great cause.

Your To-Do list:

• Get a Team Alan shirt 
• Find a route around you (www.mapmyrun.com), pick a time to race
• Take a picture of yourself/your team on race day, and send me your photos & race times.
• Donate to Team Alan. New people who join and raise at least $25 I will send a FREE signed book of your choice.

Results will be posted on this site and the #1 racer of each gender will have an extra $25 donated in your name for Alan.

Here’s the real kicker: Team Alan still needs to raise around $1500 to pay for Alan’s recovery, and specifically, his speech therapy. So, if we can rally to raise the money, I…will…shave my head and beard. And I’ll record a video and post the excruciating results of my looking like a freshly-shorn lamb.

Interested?  Hit me up with a comment below or drop me a line to let me know you’re in or for more info/questions.

UPDATE: The results. See how we did!

UPDATE 2: The Martinez family is still accepting donations, so hop on over and contribute and I’ll extend the offer to shave my head. Hair today, gone tomorrow….