Please take a minute to read...

I have two more posts already today so make sure you read them too. One is about the day and the other is me just responding to comments and questions.

I do want to remind everyone that yes, I am hiking the AT for fun and to accomplished a goal of mine. However, I am using my time, talents, ability, etc. to do this for others, and you can too. I am trying to raise money for children's charities and help others become aware of the types of charities out there related to kids. I ask that people pledge to a charity of their choice based on the number of miles I hike. My goal is $100,000 pledged after hiking all 2,176 miles. I understand that giving may be a tough thing for some of us. However, you can still help me out by spreading the word or just reading about the charities that others are already giving to. Remember, a penny a mile is only 21 dollars in the end. But 21 dollars adds up quick. More information can be found on the links to the right on my blog. Leave a comment or send an email if you have any questions.

Thanks to those who have already pledged and helped to spread the word. It is awesome to hear stories and find out who is following this blog even though I might have never met you. I am just one piece of the puzzle. Just think of the puzzle we can complete if we continue to work together on this.

Words can not express again my thanks to those who have supported me so far. I am grateful to have each and everyone of you as a part of this journey. It truly means a lot.

Thanks again,
Brian "BowTie" Thompson

Can We Get to 20%?

First of all, many thanks to those who have pledged money already to a charity. It is very fascinating and inspirational to read about the charity you chose and why you chose it. I know it is probably just two or three of you who might actually read this blog, but to the others out there in cyber land that might read just this one post, please consider pledging to a children's charity of your choice. Even if you are unable to give only $21 over the 6 months I will be hiking (that is just a penny a mile), then at least take the time to go to some of the charity websites and read about the ones people are donating to. All the links have been provided in the Charity Pledges blog. Heck, I bet most of you could "round up" your purchases just this week to the next dollar...take that change...and have enough for $21.

Let's see if we can get the "pledged" total up from the $8,219 it is currently at to $20,000 by the time I start hiking next Wednesday. Don't forget, as I start hiking, the thermometer will increase (indicating the actual donations) and get closer to the total pledged amount. Thanks again for your support!

Young Life Talk Postponed

***SPOILER if you plan to attend Riverwood YL Club on 3/10***

If you have been keeping up with this blog and read about the charities I have pledged to, you might have noticed that one of the charities I personally chose was Young Life - NW Atlanta. For those that might not know, Young Life is a non-denominational Christian ministry committed to reaching adolescent youth with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is done through building personal relationships with the youth, walking beside them in their faith journey, and even sharing our lives with them. I have always been involved with youth ministry is some capacity, be that with my church youth groups, the Presbyterian Youth Connection, summer youth camps, or Young Life. I didn't get plugged in to Young Life until a year and a half ago. The high school I volunteer with is Riverwood International Charter School in Atlanta, GA. The kids are awesome, and I have truly enjoyed getting to know them and go to camp with them.

One way Young Life connects with kids in through Club. Club is a time each week in which we are able to make Jesus Christ known even to those kids who are disinterested or unreached. This week, I was going to share with the kids the journey I am about to take, and the time when Abraham was called to pick up what he had and travel. However, this talk was postponed due to the 89th snowstorm the South has seen this winter. Well, it didn't postpone Club, but it did postpone the Riverwood Varsity Boys Sweet 16 basketball game from Tuesday to Wendesday. So instead of having club on the same night of the game, we are taking club to the game to hang out with kids. God works in pretty cool ways. So until next week, my talk waits...

Charity Pledges...

Below is a list of the charities in which people have pledged money to. If you would like to pledge to a certain charity, then you may do so by filling out the Charity Info Form. I am asking that you pledge to a charity that relates to high school kids or younger. The type of charity is up to you. Please read more in the following post. Please feel free to leave a comment about the charity you are pledging to so others can learn more about it.

Person(s) Pledging	Charity	Website
Randolph T.	Life Hurts God Heals	Website
Angie & Justin S.	Brightpoint for Children	Website
Teresa C.	St. Jude Children's Research Hospital	Website
Phil A.	Bridges of Hope	Website
Phil A.	Faith in Deeds	Website
Phil A.	World Vision	Website
Hasmig Y.	Children of Armenia Fund (COAF)	Website
Steve S.	Save the Children	Website
Lezi D.	Christian Foundation for Children and Aging	Website
James C.	Rainbow Days	Website
Kelly K.	Ronald McDonald House	Website
Lezi D.	Stand Up for Kids	Website
Rich & Jayn L.	Memphis Athletic Ministries	Website
Roxann & Tommy M.	Bartlett Baptist Youth Guatemala Youth Mission Trip	TBD
Johnny and Scottie S.	Jon Shober Scholarship Fund	TBD
Nancy R.	Fisher House - Helping Military Families	TBD
Duane E.	St. Jude Research Hospital	Website
John W.	Save the Children	Website
Teresa M.	St. Jude Children's Hospital	Website
Betsy K.	The Children's Foundation	Website
Edward K.	St. Judes Hospital	TBD
Standard Electric Company Inc.	TBD	TBD
West S.	Atlanta Youth Academies	Website
Stacey & Mark M.	Camp W.	Website
Marvin and Martha G.	University of Tennessee - Tennessee Fund	Website
Anonymous	LaAmistad	Website
My Parents	Special Olympics	Website
Serena and Gary B.	The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society	Website
Sarah J.	Stand Up For Kids - Atlanta	Website
Darci M.	Stop Hunger Now	Website
Keith S.	A Friend's House and Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta	Website
Sherie and Britt L.	Melissa George Neonatal Memorial Fund (In Memory of Bryson Palmer)	Website
Steve and Barbara R.	LeBonheur Children's Medical Center	Website
Sherie and Britt L.	Anna Todd Cheney Memorial Foundation	Website
Ellen W.	Young Life - NW Atlanta	Website
Tweedie G.	Roswell Women's Club	Website
David & Esther B.	The ABA Place	Website
Elizabeth W.	Camp Twin Lakes: Camp To Go	Website
Michelle B.	Lespwa	Website
Stuart & Lindsay G.	Christ Central - New Ellenton, SC	Website
Anonymous	Cornerstone UMC Youth Trip to Panama	Website
Tom & Julie M.	Sumner County CASA	Website
Jessi L.	Feeding America's Hungry Children	Website
Brittany S.	Rachel Sims Baptist Mission	Website
Brian T.	Young Life - NW Atlanta	Website
Brian T.	St. Jude	Website
Brian T.	Camp Lookout	Website
Brian T.	TBD	Website

Charity Information Form

Fill out the form below to let me know which charity you are pledging money too. Thanks again for your support.

First Name:
Last Name:
Email Address:
Keep Name Anonymous:	Yes No
Charity Organization:
Charity Website:
Donation Amount (Per Mile Hiked):
About Charity/Reason for Donating to your Charity:

This online form was provided by Freedback.

Through HIS Feet

So my blog is titled Through HIS Feet. With His feet, Jesus walked around spreading the good news. In Matthew it says, "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness." I am by no means Jesus, duh, but He has given me the joy and opportunity to spend the next 5 or 6 months using my feet to do something. As I mentioned in my first post, I hope that some of you find this journey as a way to take your first step in trying something new or something that you have been putting off. For those of you who take this challenge or decide not to, I have decided that there is still something else you can do. You can donate money to charity. No, this is not the Brian fund or something crazy like that. I mean, you can always give me money but that is not what I want you to do. Perhaps you already donate your time or money to a charity, and if so, I commend you. I have set a goal to raise $100,000, but there is a catch. I am asking you to pledge to a charity of your choice, but I do ask that your charity somehow relate to kids of high school age or younger. You will pledge an amount based on the number of miles I hike. For example, you can pledge only $0.01 per mile. When I complete the entire trail, then you will donate your $21.76 (approximate 2,176 miles x $0.01 per mile) to your charity. I would love for you to donate more per mile, but I will leave that up to you. None of your donation will come to me or go through me. Your donation will be based on your pledge, and I hope and expect you to follow through with it when I am finished hiking.

Once you decide on the amount you want to pledge and choose your charity, please fill out the Charity Info Form. I would like to learn more about your charity and even why you chose that charity. You may also post a comment so others can learn about your charity. My plan is to keep a list of all the charities somewhere on the blog so others can get more information about it and maybe even choose it as one of theirs. In your email to me, I ask that you also include your charity, maybe why you chose it, the amount per mile you are pledging, and your contact information. I will use the amount as well as the number of miles I have hiked to keep a record of the amount of money pledged. I will keep your personal info anonymous, and will only post your name if you give me permission. I would also like to have a way to contact you to personally thank you for your pledge.

I will be the first to pledge an amount. I am going to choose 4 separate charities and pledge $0.25 per mile for each of those. I will have a separate post giving the charity names and info about them. Assuming, I complete the whole trail, I am already at 2% of my goal. Now I just need your help with the other 98%.

Again, I am only asking that you choose something related to kids high school age or younger. Other than that, I don't care if it is religious based, associated with a camp, providing medical research, giving someone educational support (paying for you kid's private school or future college doesn't count), located in your city or even abroad, etc. I just ask that it is related to kids. I look forward to hearing about some charities and seeing some pledges. Help me surpass this goal of $100,000!