Rollerskiing for Minnesota flood relief
To help flooded residents in southeast Minnesota, two Rochester area skiers will raise money for the Red Cross by rollerskiing across Minnesota this weekend.
Henry Walker and Michael O’Connor, both board members for the multidisciplinary Rochester Active Sports Club, will start from Lake Hendricks on the South Dakota border on Friday morning in hopes of reaching Red Wing by Sunday evening.
Their 212-mile route will pass through Marshall, Redwood Falls, New Prague, Cannon Falls and finally Red Wing, requiring the duo to cover more than 70 miles per day. “Given that neither of us has ever rollerskied more than 40-50 miles in a day, this will be an interesting experience,” the pair said in a press release.
Those willing to support the rollerskiers’ efforts on behalf of flood victims are asked to give generously to the Red Cross. The men are taking per mile pledges, so would-be contributors are asked to e-mail O’Connor at mkoconnor@mayo.edu or Walker at walker.henry@mayo.edu.
“We’ll contact you after the trip with a report and instructions on paying the pledge,” they wrote. “It should not be too difficult to raise at least $1000 from local skiers in Minnesota.”
O’Connor and Walker suggested the following pledge levels (all donations are 100 percent tax-deductible and the Red Cross will provide receipts):”50¢ to $1 per mile: For crazy skiers, strong supporters of the Red Cross, those who have received disaster relief help from the Red Cross, those who think rollerskiing across Minnesota is really cool, and those who expect never to see us again.
“25¢ to 50¢ per mile: For good friends, regular supporters of the Red Cross, anyone who ever tried rollerskiing but thought it was nuts.
“10¢ per mile: For those with a morbid fascination in watching two old men (well one old and one getting there) trying to do something that only the young and foolish should do.”
Donations of any set amount – $25, $50, $100 ect. – are welcome too.