Darrin Eichorn
What I’ve learned since I’ve put purpose behind the fitness challenges is, it’s amazing the response you get. I’ve been very touched by the community and the people on Facebook who kind of follow these.
About two years ago I started exercising again to get rid of the ‘dad bod’ and get in better shape. Then I started doing these fitness challenges just as a way to mix up my routine. I did a 24-hour walk. Then I did this one challenge where I was on my stationary bike for eight hours. That was awful.
I started making the fitness challenges more unique, more extreme. For one of them, I ran four miles every four hours for 48 hours. That was pretty brutal, too. A lot of them, it wasn’t just physical – it was the mental aspect. Just kind of hardening your mind and pushing yourself beyond just going out and running three miles.
I started to feel like there needed to be more purpose behind the exercise challenges, especially if I’m going to post about them.
I walked 100 miles in three weeks for my niece who has Friedreich’s Ataxia. I walked for Ethan, who is Model Elementary School Principal Tami Hicks’ son and has Angelman Syndrome. He joined me at the end of my walk. For my niece and for Ethan, we raised money for the foundations to find cures. We also did it to raise awareness.
Recently there was a Walk a Mile to Save Our Children. It was on behalf of Bashor Children’s Home, which is opening a wing for kids who have had to deal with human trafficking. I tried to raise awareness for that, and that post got shared quite a few times, a lot of times by people I don’t even know.
I also did a walk to honor Kristen Cerich, who was on the Goshen Police Department. She died after a short battle with cancer earlier this year.
I have a long list of challenges I want to do. For October, I definitely want to do a fitness challenge for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I have a good friend whose son unfortunately died over in Afghanistan about seven years ago. I’m thinking about doing a walk to honor him. I’m planning on doing one for Veterans Day.
There are so many causes, so many things to bring awareness to. Some people may have never heard of a particular cause. For someone else, it’s very near and dear to them.
It gives you a lot of perspective. I think it heightens your level of gratitude and appreciation for life.
Do you have a story you want to tell?
Do you have a story to tell about someone who contributes to Goshen’s greater GOOD?
We invite you to share!