SOLE Blog
November 9th, 2009
What were you doing when you were thirteen?
- playing video games?
- skipping school?
- still going to the mall with your parents? (ok, maybe not...)
- attending sports-practices?...
When I ask myself the same question, I recall:
- Flipping through teen magazines
- Long phone conversations with girlfriends (and maybe my first boyfriend)
- Playing road hockey, baseball and kick the can with the neighbourhood kids down the street
- I was also in a few small-town drama productions
If I were to ask SOLE athlete Jordan Romero what he's done since his thirteenth birthday on July 13th 2009, his answers might include:
- Paddle-boarding
- Summiting Mt. Ranier and Carstensz Pyramid
- Hanging out in the sun
- Completing his first full marathon and duathlon
- Listening to Ziggy Marley
- Being featured in Backpacker Magazine
- Establishing the "7 Summits Youth Challenge"
... all said with an equal amount of excitement and enthusiasm.
Jordan doesn't just read magazines, he's interviewed by them. Long phone conversations are usually with sponsors or his mom because he's across the Atlantic. He still plays games with the kids in his community, except, it's to motivate them to get outside and as a result, combat childhood obesity.
Jordan's 7 Summit Quest
The second half of Jordan's year as a 13 year-old will include the summit of Mt. Vinson Massif in Antarctica, as well as Mt. Everest. Yes, you read this correctly, Mount Everest. Jordan is on a quest to summit the top 7, well actually 8, tallest peaks on each continent. He has climbed 6 thus far, and 2010 is his year to set the record for the world's youngest person to summit these monumental peaks.
Get Involved
Jordan's dream is SO close, he can taste it. There is one small mountain in the way: he doesn't quite have enough money to make it to Antarctica. There's a variety of ways we can support him and www.jordanromero.com tells us how. Even if you're unable to donate, drop Jordan a line of encouragement. After all, we could all use a little support.
Brandi is the Sales & Marketing Coordinator at SOLE. She resides in Calgary, AB with her husband Alex.
Comments (3)
On November 10th, 2009, Karen said:
Nice Job Brandi! Good perspective and thought provoking. Thanks SOLE for supporting Jordan on this quest that is bigger than he is.
On November 19th, 2009, Eoin said:
So you asking people to basically pay for a kid to go climb a mountain?
On November 20th, 2009, Brandi said:
Well, that depends on how you look at it. I guess you could purchase a t-shirt or a Buff or some other stuff and help “basically pay for a kid to go climb a mountain.” Or, you could choose to see that it's assisting a 13 year old boy set a world record. This isn't about 1 mountain. It's about setting your mind to something and achieving it; it's about supporting individuals through their goals, helping when otherwise it may be out of reach. Not only that, Jordan has a blog. If you would prefer not to assist through monetary support, spur him on! Most of us aren't setting world records, but we all need encouragement. Imagine attempting to set a world record, without encouragement.