Reality Rally

The real winner is Michelle’s Place Breast Cancer Center !!!!!

The 3 Amigos have been the Reality Rally top fundraising team for 6 years raising over $75 thousand but they have said every year that the real winner is Michelle’s Place Breast Cancer Center and yes it is.

 Unlike the Ice Bucket Challenge where we poured ice water to make a difference in the lives of others, the 3 Amigos Challenge is asking everyone to pour donations in to make a difference in the lives of those fighting for their lives facing cancer. They challenge all of you out there to challenge everyone you know to donate to your own fundraiser for Michelle’s Place. Just send everyone your fundraising link.

 

Last year they raised $13,000 for Reality Rally. This year, they’re back, ready to beat their mind-boggling fundraising record. Reality Rally’s “Three Amigos”, Steven Pickett, John Vataha and Rick Fortin are challenging you to join them, and to gain the passion they have for endless fundraising! They have donated $5000.00 to kick off their challenge.....take a look.

But first, who are these Three Amigos? Let’s meet them.

Taryn our Blogger chatted to them on the phone so you would all know who they are......and through her interview she found out they are just ordinanry folk who really care........ 

Steven: Steven, father of five and grandfather of 10, resides in El Reno, Oklahoma, where he has lived for nearly all of his life. A self-described “pretty simple kinda guy”, Steven is a machinist, remanufacturing parts for construction equipment, and enjoys playing golf in his free time. Survivor is his favorite show and obsession, which he’s applied to be on for ages. “We’re getting close.”

John: John is self-employed and the father of three grown children. He lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife, “doing that whole empty-nester thing.” The couple made the move five years ago after tiring of the winter months in Pennsylvania which inhibited them from enjoying the outdoors. He is very active, with a love for hiking and biking.

Rick: Rick is a high school math teacher who lives in Alpine, California. The father of three kids, he spends most of his time with family, and just celebrated his 21st wedding anniversary. Though two of his children are in college, he still has a nine year old son at home, whose soccer and baseball teams he coaches. “I’m pretty much a family person.”

How did they connect with Reality Rally?

Steven: “Being a big fan of Survivor,” Steven said, “Gillian has always been great friend of mine.” Once Steven met her and figured out her plans for Reality Rally, he was excited to participate. Together, the Three Amigos determined to compete in the race, bringing them closer than ever. “I would literally do anything for John or Rick,” Steven said. “It’s unbelievable how strong our friendship is.”

John: John became aware of Reality Rally after Steven, who he connected with due to Survivor, mentioned the event. “He called me up one day and said, ‘I just heard about this thing and we’ve got to do it.’” Steve knew about John’s nature and competitiveness, since the two had been applying for Survivor constantly. Thinking Reality Rally sounded like a neat challenge, they joined with Rick to see how good they really thought they were at Survivor-type competitions.

Rick: Rick’s obsession with Survivor and Survivor casting calls has thrived for many years, though his family laughs at him because he’s never gotten on. After meeting Steven on Facebook through a blog for Survivor fans, he won tickets to a Survivor finale show and invited Steven to tag along. At the event, they met John, and all three have stayed touch ever since. “Even of my lifelong friends,” Rick said, “they’re probably two of the best friends that I have. I can’t say enough about them.” After meeting Gillian at the finale show, Rick invited her to speak at his high school, and later received an email from her regarding Reality Rally. He contacted the other two amigos about the event, and they've “been doing it ever since.”

How do they feel about Michelle’s Place?

Rick: Rick was unaware of Michelle’s Place until Gillian decided to make the breast cancer resource facility her charity. Though he looked at the Michelle’s Place website, it wasn’t until he met Michelle’s parents that he truly felt a connection and passion for the resource center. “You realize this isn’t just a charity,” he said. Rick now explains that he thinks of it as his own charity, because the cause has become so personal to him. “Every time we meet those parents, I just give them a giant hug,” he said.

Steven: “I love Michelle’s mom and dad, they’re wonderful, wonderful people. For us, it translates into the fact that everyone has been touched by breast cancer in some way or some form,” Steven said. He hopes that places like Michelle’s Place can be made available in all states. “The way they do things, and the way they help these ladies is top notch.”

John: “The first year it was all about the competition. We might have seen the name Michelle’s Place but we really had no idea what that was all about,” John said. It wasn’t until the second year that the Three Amigos visited Michelle’s Place as part of the Reality Rally weekend. The visit gave them a visual of what had previously been “just a charity that sounded like a neat thing.” Since, all the Three Amigos have felt a personal connection to the breast-cancer recourse facility, and feel that what they’re doing can really make a big difference. “You can donate thousands of dollars to a big charity and you get a standard thank you letter in the mail, and you don’t know much about where the money went,” John said. “But when you hear about how many women were served last year and what kind of services they do [at Michelle’s Place], it just makes you feel more personally connected.” Now, John says, everyone at Michelle’s Place feels like extended family.

What is their challenge for you?

Rick: “If you think you’re better than us, then raise more money than us.” Rick hopes to bring out the competitive side of all Reality Rally fundraisers. Once someone gets close to the Three Amigo’s fundraising, it motivates them, too.

Steven: Steven wants to see if the Three Amigos can get everyone to raise as much money as they possibly can. “Don’t just raise what you want to try to raise, raise as much as you possibly can.” Steven reminds fundraisers that each additional hundred dollars (or so) can provide an additional mammogram for a woman in need. “I haven’t had anyone in my immediate family or extended family [with breast cancer], but I’ve had friends that have had it. It needs to be focused on and taken care of.”

John: John says that he wants fundraisers to focus in on the “evolution of thought” that the Three Amigos went through. Over time, they began to realize that fundraising wasn’t just about acquiring the minimum amount to qualify for the race. Fundraising was a continuous effort to raise more and more money, even after reading their goal. “We’re trying to give a message to the Reality Stars attending that says, ‘Hey guys, while you’re still on that platform, with 15 minutes of fame, do something with it. Don’t just be satisfied that you raised the minimum amount of 500 dollars, think about the next 100 or 200 bucks. These are services that are being provided to real people,” he said.

All in all, the Three Amigos hope to make the idea of fundraising tangible for all Reality Rally participants. Their stories are pieces of encouragement for everyone attending the event, demonstrating drive and motivation that never says, “That’s good enough.” So, this year, challenge yourself to keep pressing on, even if you’ve reached your so-called goal. Don’t stop! You might just raise $13,000.

Ask everyone you know to donate whatever they can, ask for a Corporate match, ask for a company volunteer donation, just ask ask ask and thank you.