Filed by Trevor at 12:05 am under Activism, Humanism, Shameless Plugs, Social Issues

Rather than carry on the way I normally do and preface this entry with loads of backstory and ancillary details that relate in no way to anything else, I’ll be direct: in just over a month I will begin six months of training for the Chicago AIDS Marathon to be held on October 11th, and along the way I will also be participating in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk. This is hugely out of character for me and I’m absolutely terrified, but paradoxically this is precisely why I have confidence this is the path I need to take.

The decision to run the marathon came first; Bil ran it two (three?) years ago and I remember being impressed with the extensive training program attached. Hence why, when the promotional materials for the 2009 marathon popped up at work, I found myself stopping and reading everything over: it wouldn’t be as though I were jumping in entirely on my own. The clincher came while I was riding the Brown Line and saw the advertisement for the Overnight. After all, I thought, by late June I’ll already have been in training for two months, so what the hell? Furthermore, I feel an even closer connection with the latter’s cause than I do with AIDS prevention, as suicide has claimed the lives of three of arguably the most important people in my musical life. So I signed on for that, too.

In addition to raising money for two overwhelmingly urgent causes, my decision to participate is rooted also in my desire to turn a corner in my life and make some truly permanent changes. This was the impetus I needed to finally quit smoking, and I am hoping this will also allow me to incorporate daily physical exercise permanently into my routine, as well as consistently maintaining a healthy diet. While I have a proven ability to lose significant amounts of weight in a healthy way, it takes little to derail me; I am using the long, difficult marathon training program as a catalyst to completely overhaul my way of thinking — regarding food and beyond — and give me a permanent reference point.

Now the money talk. You knew it was coming.

The total (minimum) fundraising goal is $2,600 altogether — $1,000 for the Overnight and $1,600 for the marathon. This figure doesn’t scare me in the slightest, and I’m confident I can raise more than that, especially in the time allotted (all funds must be raised by mid-June). And I figure if some chick in New York can pay off $20,000 in credit card debt one anonymous dollar at a time, I should be able to do the same for less than 15% of that amount. So that’s what I’m asking of you; every amount helps. Furthermore, in early June I will be performing a full-length recital specifically to raise money for both organizations, and for every $25 you donate, I’ll save a seat for you.

More details on that as they become available, of course, but in the meantime please seriously consider dropping a dollar in the hat — or more, if you are able. You can find specific information on my fundraising pages listed below; all donations are tax-deductible:

AFSP Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk
AIDS Foundation of Chicago Marathon

Thank you for reading this far, and thank you for supporting me. I hope to see you in June and on the sidelines!