PULL FOR PATRICK!

Hello All,

Patrick Anderson is one of the most impressive guys I have EVER met.  He is a former teammate of mine at Clemson University and a friend of mine for life.  Patrick is the most impressive endurance athlete I have ever seen.  He was quite the accomplished collegiate  rower and turned that into endless success in the world of distance running and triathlons.  He has won countless accolades on the collegiate rowing scene, marathon circuit, and as an Ironman'r.  You would never know his many successes though because he is the most humble guy you will ever meet.  

Unfortunately, last week Patrick went into cardiac arrest and is currently in a coma in a North Carolina hospital.  It's crazy to think that the fittest guy I know, at age 29, had this happen.  However, I can't think of a better fighter to take this challenge on.  I have no doubt my man will bounce back as strong as ever.  

 THE LINK BELOW WILL TAKE YOU TO THE FUNDRAISING PAGE SET UP TO HELP OFFSET PATRICK'S MOUNTING MEDICAL EXPENSES.  PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN.

http://www.gofundme.com/cc44tc

Here is Patrick's mailing address too if you would like to show some support in the form of a card or flowers etc for he and his wonderful and beautiful bride Katie.

Patrick and Katie Anderson Home Address

5426 Widgeon Drive

Wilmington, NC 28403


I love you like a brother Patrick,

Mark/Chops

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days

PATRICK CROSSING THE FINISH LINE AT IRONMAN FLORIDA!

THIS GUY IS A CHAMP!

TAKING HOME LIGHTWEIGHT 8+ GOLD IN 2006 AFTER CRUSHING TEXAS AND OTHERS TO WIN THE SOUTHEASTERN COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP.  PATRICK IS 4TH FROM THE RIGHT. 

WINNING DOUBLE GOLD IN FRONT OF THE HOME CROWD AT CLEMSON IN 2006!  COLLEGIATE LWT 4+ AND LWT 8+ CHAMPS! PATRICK IS FAR RIGHT.

PATRICK AND HIS BEAUTIFUL BRIDE KATIE.  CLEMSON ROYALTY HERE!

PATRICK IS FAR RIGHT WITH HIS FELLOW 2007 CLEMSON GRADS.

PATRICK AND KATIE PROBABLY RIGHT AFTER THEY WON A MARATHON SOMEWHERE! NO BIG DEAL!

THANKS IOWA

Hello All,

I am going to share a few co-authored pieces I worked on with Bill and Jess.  Reflections from the past month during our Iowa flood response deployment.  

First:

 Recently, while working in ‪Iowa‬ alongside Team Rubicon & AmeriCorps NCCC we participated in a special moment. During flood cleanup of 81-year old Don Berg's home, his 61-year old military uniform was recovered among the muck. When the week of gutting & flood cleanup was complete, Don was surprised with a dry cleaned and brass polished uniform. A comforting & inspiring moment for the entire team involved and an excellent way to cap off the collaboration with our ‪National Service‬ friends in Rock Rapids, Iowa.

NECHAMA's Mark M reports that this was an incredible scene that brought with it waterworks of a different kind. The emotional flood and meaningful hard work will be remembered forever. 

Second:

Three weeks earlier Jim and Linda were at home as the nearby Rock River crept up. They had been lucky so far to have avoided flooding, which had affected many of their neighbors and Jim didn’t hesitate to go into the still dry basement to check on things. Rain continued to fall and rising water began to surround the house. Suddenly a surge of water and mud crashed through the windows and storm door, forcing Jim to run for safety.

Within minutes, 15 feet of water had inundated the basement and first floor. Decades of photographs, family heirlooms and belongings were submerged or carried away by the rushing waters. When the River finally crested and the water receded, they were left with tens of thousands of dollars in damage and no flood insurance to help them pick up the pieces.

Luckily, Jim and Linda were not alone. NECHAMA was ready to respond as soon we heard news of impending floods in Iowa and Minnesota and quickly deployed our response team when our assistance was requested in Rock Rapids, IA and nearby Luverne, MN. Two hundred and sixty of our volunteers have put on their boots and assisted folks like Jim and Linda with cleanup since our arrival. In just over two weeks we mucked, gutted and sanitized 30 homes. We also expanded our direct reach by loaning out portions of our tools and equipments to other voluntary groups in the area, who helped even more.

Each morning when NECHAMA volunteers arrived at Jim and Linda’s house, the couple was already hard at work. In addition to cleaning up their own home, the pair championed the NECHAMA cause, identifying neighbors in need, and connecting NECHAMA with additional resources in the community. Their effort to comfort their neighbors at a time when they themselves were in need was inspiring. Though the families of Rock Rapids have a long recovery ahead, NECHAMA has given many a head start.

I sound like a broken record, but I am lucky to be a small part of something so great.  I'm on the move once more....assessing some flood damage in northern Minnesota. Till next time.

Mark/Chops

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days

ALMOST 15 FEET OF MUD AND WATER IN THESE IOWA HOMES

SEVERAL THOUSAND HOURS OF WORK LATER, TEAMWORK GOT US HERE!

TEAMWORK IN IOWA WITH GUSS AND VICTORIA!  

GUTTING A FLOODED HOME ABOVE THE WATER LINE WITH JOE!

A LIFETIME OF FAILED MATH CLASSES ISN'T HELPING ME SOLVE THE AGE OLD QUESTION OF WILL THE FRIDGE FIT THROUGH THE DOOR??....

PRESENTING 82 YEAR OLD AIR FORCE VETERAN MR. BERG WITH HIS 62 YEAR OLD UNIFORM THAT WE FOUND, SALVAGED, AND DRY CLEANED AFTER THE FLOOD

THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.  AWESOME JOB AMERICORPS, NECHAMA, TEAM RUBICON AND MR. BERG!

SINGING TAYLOR SWIFT TUNES WITH VICTORIA TO THE TEAM DURING LUNCH BREAK!

TEXAS ROADHOUSE HOSTED THE IOWA FLOOD RESPONSE TEAM FOR A FREE DINNER!

CLOUDY PICTURE OF THE INCREDIBLE T-MONEY, RYAN, HANNAH, D, GUSS, NOEL, AND IGGY!  THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND FUN TIMES!

DUMPSTER DIVING WITH MY MAN DEREK!

HOW'D YOU SPEND YOUR 4TH OF JULY?  I WATCHED A DEMOLITION DERBY IN INWOOD, IOWA.  BEST PEOPLE WATCHING SO FAR IN 2014! AMERICA!

CATCHING A KILLER 4TH OF JULY SUNSET  IN THE IOWA CORNFIELDS WITH D!

FIREWORKS WITH GENE AND THE AMERICORPS CREW!

MY GHOSTBUSTERS IN TRAINING, IGGY AND NOEL!

NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE. I MEAN THE LYON COUNTY REPORTER ARTICLE. SAME THING

PAGE TWO

"THE WORLD NEEDS DITCH DIGGERS TOO DANNY!"

GETTING A JUMPSTART ON NO SHAVE NOVEMBER!

NECHAMA ASSEMBLY LINE IN ACTION!

DON'T ASK

I'LL LET YOU GUESS WHAT'S RUNNING THROUGH THIS PIPE.  OHHH DISASTER RESPONE!

ROCK RAPIDS, IOWA FLOOD RESPONSE

Greetings from middle America!

For the past few weeks our team has been taking on a flood response project in the community of Rock Rapids, Iowa.  With the help of several local community leaders and our emergency management contacts-friends, we were able to identify 30 homes to work on that were ravaged by as much as 15 feet of water. We are currently collaborating with our military disaster response team partners, Team Rubicon, and Iowa's Americorps response team to address the immediate needs of these storm survivors.  Our teams have been fortunate to work alongside a gritty and compassionate community, and several of our great partners in the nonprofit disaster response world.  Over the past 10 days, with the help of 300+ incredible volunteers, we have contributed over 2,000 hours of work towards saving these homes in Rock Rapids.

We are off to a great start, but our work here isn't done.  Thank you to all those that are burning the candle at both ends with us here in Iowa.  We could never do it without you.  

Mark/Chops

I made a quick trip over the boarder into South Dakota today don'cha know....

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days

MOM AND SISTER SUSAN: MY APPROXIMATE CURRENT LOCATION 

FIELD OF DREAMS?? MADE IT TO IOWA!

NECHAMA AND TEAM RUBICON CHECKING ON SOME PROGRESS ON A JOB SITE

DAN GAME PLANNING WITH THE AMERICORP RESPONSE TEAM

RECOVERY IS ALL ABOUT COLLABORATION.  TEAM RUBICON, NECHAMA, AND AMERICORPS AFTER A GREAT DAY IN THE FIELD

MINNESOTA/IOWA BOARDER

THIS IS WHAT SOUTH DAKOTA LOOKS LIKE IN CASE YOU WERE CURIOUS

SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA!

SIOUX FALLS A MOMENT BEFORE GETTING CAUGHT IN TORRENTIAL RAINS!

FREIGHT TRAIN HOPPING IN SOUTH DAKOTA!

VOLUNTEERS WORKING THEIR MAGIC

VOLUNTEER AND HOMEOWNER WORKING SIDE BY SIDE TOWARDS RECOVERY!

MR. GENE WORKING HIS PRESSURE WASHING MAGIC TO CLEAN UP AND SANITIZE  FLOODED HOMES!