In March 2020, I'm going to be trekking 62 miles (100 km) over 5 days with my HSBC colleagues from around the world and attempt to summit Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world at elv. 19,347ft (5,897m) to raise awareness for importance of mental health.  

My chosen charity is Sidelined USA, a 501(c)3 dedicated to reuniting permanently-sidelined student-athletes with their passions and inspiring them to find a meaningful way forward following medical disqualification from sport.

As many of you know, chasing big mountain views and high peaks in the beautiful Pacific Northwest on my mountain bike has been my passion for a good part of the last 20 years. But I was thrown into an emotional/psychological roller coaster ride in 2014 when I developed exercise induced cardiac arrhythmia (Atrial Fibrillation and Tachycardia) which produced heart-attack like symptoms when I was exerting hard physical effort, mostly while cycling. Fear of having to go through these scary episodes made me increasingly reluctant to go out on hard rides, and I eventually started to drift away from my cycling friends and withdrew from social activities. 

I felt lost, powerless, bitter and angry about my passion being taken away, jealous of others who went on their lives merrily, but I had no one to talk to who could understand what I was going through.  I was mentally stuck in a dark place, and it took me many years to come to terms with it. 

This Cotopaxi trek & summit attempt has a symbolic importance to me for overcoming physical limitation placed by A-fib and finding an alternative way to stay connected with my passion for outdoors.

Sidelined USA provides coping resources, connection, and mentorships in sports-related fields to help former athletes like me, who had to give up their chosen sports due to injuries or medical conditions, re-connect with opportunities in related fields such as coaching, athletic training, sports media and photography.  It also educates the sports medicine and athletic communities about the psychological impact of medical disqualification from sport.  

Please join me in supporting this young organization.  Your donation will not only help me reach my personal fundraising goal, but will also allow Sidelined USA to provide comprehensive support network, including mental wellness counseling. Nobody should have to go through life altering transitions alone.