How to prepare to climb a mountain

Since January, John Rostek has been enduring increasingly difficult physical training in order to be ready to climb Mt. McKinley (Denali): tread mills at the steepest incline while carry a 70 pound backpack, dragging 50 pound sleds up hills in area parks, and running 10 miles. 

All of those tasks will help him (and the other 10 people in the team) as they start their ascent tomorrow.  So, what has the team been doing since arriving in Anchorage on Tuesday?  Grocery shopping.  Everyone in the team will cart food provisions up the mountain by dragging a large, heavy-duty sled.  Today, John bought Ramen noodles, mac and cheese, sardines, cheese, bagels, snickers, trail mix, peanut butter, crackers, instant soup, beef sticks, and instant potatoes.  All of it is food that is both easy to transport and easy to make.

That's not all the team did today. They also traveled to  Talkeetna (a four hour drive) to meet with the National Park Service for an orientation before starting their trek. John also worked in an interview with the public radio station at Central Michigan University, his alma mater.  Just as soon as that link is available, we'll bring it to you.

On the home front, our fund raising total has topped the $17,000 mark.  The big question remaining is who will reach 20,320 first, John Rostek or the fund for student activities in the Hamtramck Public Schools?  You can help student activities in Hamtramck by sending your TAX DEDUCTIBLE check, made out to Piast Institute ("Mr. Rostek's Climb" in the memo), to:

Hamtramck Public Schools
3201 Roosevelt
Hamtramck, MI 48212

Thanks for all of your support!

The kids did a great job!

Every third Sunday of the month, Maria's Comida, a restaurant in Hamtramck, hosts an event that will support a local project designed to improve the city.  The event is called Diverse (Soup) City .Everyone one pays $7.00 for a meal of delicious soup (tonight's was vegan ratatouille), fresh bread, a beverage, and something sweet.  During the meal, pre-arranged groups deliver a brief presentation about a project that they hope will be funded through the night's proceeds.

Tonight, the Climbing for Success campaign made its appeal to the crowd gathered at the cozy environs of Maria's.  First to speak was John Rostek who gave a brief overview of his goal to climb Mt. McKinley.  Next, Emad and Karolina (two juniors at HHS) spoke about how much money we are hoping to raise and why.  Finally, Iqra and Simone (a senior and a sophomore) displayed a beautiful poster (replete with flashing stars) they created and Iqra spoke specifically about how attending events with Student Council helped her to become a better leader.  Five other students came out to support the presentation.

After all of the presentations were complete, the diners voted.  Our table held hands as the results were announced.  The winner - Climbing for Success.  The total grant received tonight is $302!  Thanks Maria's Comida and SOUP patrons.

If you would like to help us reach the summit amount of $20,320, please make your check out to Piast Institute (please write "Mr. Rostek's Climb" in the memo) and mail that TAX DEDUCTIBLE donation to:

Hamtramck Public Schools
3201 Roosevelt
Hamtramck, MI 48212

Thanks for your continued support!