Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
| Messages 1 - 6 of total 6 in this topic |
cliffmama
Trad climber
Noo Jerzee
|
|
|
Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 25, 2008 - 01:15am PT
|
Gunks Climbers' Coalition Fundraising Campaign
to Purchase Rescue Equipment for the Mohonk Preserve
On Memorial Day 2008, Maria del Piano fell on a climb in the Near Trapps and was taken to an ambulance on a rescue litter. She needed surgery on her wrist, where a titanium plate was inserted.
As a result of this experience, Maria offered to donate a generous amount of money to the Gunks Climbers' Coalition Rescue Fund, to help with the purchase of new rescue equipment for the Mohonk Preserve. With this seed money, the GCC was just about to start a fund drive when something unbelievably offensive happened. Thieves stole $9000 worth of ropes and specialized rigging gear from the rescue cache in the Trapps.
While the Mohonk Preserve works with their insurance company to help recover their losses, the GCC would like to continue our plans for the Rescue Fund drive to raise money for new equipment, defray rescue costs and help with any theft expenses not covered by insurance.
We hope to raise as much money as possible between now and our November 1st benefit slide show featuring Michael Kodas, the author of High Crimes - The Fate of Everest in the age of Greed, a narrative look at how big money and big egos are drawing crime and malfeasance to Mount Everest. Admission to the slide show is a $10 donation. For more information about the slide show, see http://gunksclimbers.org/events.shtml#KODAS.
Please help the GCC help the Mohonk Preserve, so they can have the rescue equipment needed to help us climbers when we need them the most. The Mohonk Preserve is a non-profit land conservation organization supported by its members and visitors and depends on all of us to help. At present accident rates, the Preserve estimates that rescues cost $10,000 per year and presently this must come out of the Preserve's bottom line. Also, equipment ages and needs to be replaced with new equipment regularly.
Please go to http://gunksclimbers.org/rescuefund.shtml to make your donations.
We accept personal check, credit cards and Paypal payments.
Thank you for your help.
The Gunks Climbers' Coalition
|
|
Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
Oct 25, 2008 - 01:47am PT
|
happiegrrrl's original thread reporting on the stolen rescue equipment is at http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.html?topic_id=696564
Bump. Though I guess the easterners are all tucked in bed now - hopefully the thread won't fall off the page before they see it in the morning, or on Monday.
|
|
Gunkie
climber
East Coast US
|
|
|
Oct 25, 2008 - 10:56am PT
|
In the early 1990s I donated a new 200' x 7/16" static line for rescue purposes. I wonder if that was still in use. I'll have to donate some gear or money.
Edit: Just made on on-line donation. Not as personal as a gift of new gear, but it works.
|
|
Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
|
|
|
Oct 27, 2008 - 12:39pm PT
|
I just posted this on the Gunks Reunion thread.
I just checked my footage and everything seems in order so the plan is to put out a DVD of the Rock and Snow event and talk at the Mohonk Visitor Center the following night. It will be available through Rock and Snow with the proceeds to help replace the stolen rescue equipment that some thoughtless fools pinched recently. I will let people know when the DVD is available directly so please have patience and don't pester Rich about it.
To the thieves: for taking advantage of the trust of the Shawangunks climbing community and the Mohonk Preserve, that gear is cursed in your hands, so return it. Otherwise, may your spirits whither and die in a thousand ways. Simply walk up there some night and put it back in the boxes. We all make mistakes. This one is unforgivable.
|
|
cliffmama
Trad climber
Noo Jerzee
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 27, 2008 - 07:37pm PT
|
Steve, that is terrific! Thanks for putting together the DVD and for your donation of the proceeds to the preserve. Now note that insurance may actually cover the cost of the equipment... but there could be a deductible, and gear needs to be replaced and updated regularly anyway... as well as the cost of rescue operations. Also, it certainly seems like a good idea to have extra gear available in case some of it "disappears". So having a fund drive to help with rescue costs and equipment is always a useful thing, even if insurance covers the stolen equipment. Before the gear was stolen, I had been talking with Ranger Hank about raising money for equipment, and they could use a new rescue litter (about $1800), and it was getting time to replace the extra long ropes as well. So any proceeds will get put to good use.
Thanks to everyone for there generous donations so far. It's wonderful to see the climbing community coming together to condemn this theft and help out the preserve.
Don't forget to come to the benefit slide show this Saturday Nov 1st at the Preserve visitor's center at 7pm, $10 donation.
Jannette
|
|
| Messages 1 - 6 of total 6 in this topic |
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!