New Year’s Resolutions

Right about now is when many people, myself and my friends included, start trying to set resolutions for the upcoming year.  Perhaps it is to spend less money on unnecessary things, exercise more, eat healthier foods, call friends and family members more often, start a new hobby, practice meditation more often, or any assortment of things.  The New Year is seen as a fresh start to the way we want to live.  Just as frequent as the conversations as to what we want to change or incorporate, are conversations about how long (or short) it will take for people to lapse or give up on their resolutions.  What would be great is to have a bit of inspiration while we all undertake these resolutions.  Something to look at and say “Wow that’s incredible and totally motivates me to keep on top of my goal”.  Well you are in luck because today I have just that.  Meet: Devon Dopfel.

Devon will be undertaking a mountain climbing expedition in January.  She will be tackling Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina which is the largest mountain in all of the Americas.  Devon has been working towards this specific expedition for the past several months.  Aconcagua, which stands more than 22,000 feet above sea level, has been described as one of the most technically difficult mountains because of the altitude and terrain.  The expedition is expected to last approximately three weeks: January 12th to the 31st. 

While Devon has prior experience climbing mountains, she wanted this expedition to be a bit different.  In her own words…

“I want to call this climb Expedition Empowerment. It is a climb for people who want bigger and better things for themselves. It is also for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by an obstacle that felt too great to overcome, an obstacle that seemed larger than any mountain.”

Devon is a survivor of sexual violence and has used fitness and mountain climbing as a way to heal and regain power in her life again.  She was able to seek services from BARCC and is dedicating this mountain climbing expedition to our organization.  We are happy that we were able to be a resource for Devon and so many other survivors and significant others in a time of crisis and upheaval.  We are incredibly honored that Devon has decided to fundraise and do this climb in honor of BARCC.  She serves as an inspiring and incredible person who has been able to overcome so much and succeed at many of the challenges she has undertaken. 

In addition to tremendous amounts of work preparing and training for this expedition, Devon created a fundraising page explaining her personal motivations, reasons for choosing BARCC, and giving details about Mt Aconcagua. She also posted an interview she did with the Climbing for Change team which includes even more about her motivations for climbing and her journey as a survivor and how mountain climbing has helped her to heal.  Her goal is to raise $5,000 for BARCC and she has already raised a significant amount.

While you are undertaking your own personal challenge or goal this new year, keep Devon and her personal expedition in mind as well.  Please pass along her story and goals to your family and friends as it can serve to be a source of inspiration to us all.  If you want to be a part of her goal and success, please donate to her resolution to climb for change!

 

WRITTEN BY: Stacey