When Fanbase Press is not providing you with the latest in geek news and entertainment, the Fanbase staff hopes to offer our readers a myriad of opportunities to give back to the community. We love reading comics, watching movies, and playing video games, but we are never happier than when we are able to help others in need. With #GeeksCare: How You Can Help, Fanbase Press will provide you a variety of causes that would greatly appreciate your time.
In this week’s installment of #GeeksCare: How You Can Help, Fanbase Press interviews Blair Herter who – along with his brother Thomas – will be riding their bikes from San Francisco to Los Angeles, CA, in an effort to raise funds for The Pablove Foundation which fights childhood cancer with love. In the following interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Herter about what inspired him to take on this endeavor, his preparations for the cross-state trek, how YOU can get involved with the fundraising campaign, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: This October, you and your brother will be riding your bikes from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise money to benefit The Pablove Foundation. What can you tell us about the this organization, and what motivated you to take on this endeavor?
Blair Herter: The Pablove Foundation is an organization that works not only to eliminate childhood cancer, but also to provide assistance in LIVING with it. My brother and I are both fathers and have lost family to cancer, so we were highly motivated to join the fight. Through the years, we’ve contributed to various causes in numerous ways, and last year’s Pablove Across America went through our home state of Louisiana. While there, my brother–who still lives in Lafayette, LA–met the incredible group of folks in this organization. He called me up to tell me what they were planning this year, and had me committed at “Hey, Blair, do you want to kick cancer in the…”
Philanthropic angle aside, my brother and I are both in our 30s and living in different parts of the country with families of our own. I love him dearly and don’t get to spend nearly as much time with him as I’d like. So, it’s important to me that we find time to create meaningful experiences together. I think this will be one for the Herter history books/digital files/holomatrix.
BD: Do you have a certain fundraising goal planned?
BH: We do, indeed. We’ve set a target goal of $15,000.00 by September 1, but are both looking at this as a first benchmark in a planned lifetime of work for the cause.
BD: In what ways are you preparing for your cross-state adventure?
BH: I’m on my bike…A LOT. I’ve always loved endurance training–my knees are constantly bragging about the marathons they’ve run through their unique communication methods of creaking and being weird during cold weather–but I’m really going all out for this one.
Back and butt and leg pain aside, the hardest part of training is finding the time to actually put the miles in. I have a beautiful wife and child that I want to spend every waking moment with and a demanding job that keeps me pretty darn busy — that means lots of waking up at 3:30 a.m. on weekdays to get a ride in before hopping on an early flight and 4:45 on Saturday and Sunday to throw down 40+ miles before the family wakes up. Tough, but worth it on early conceivable level!
TL;dR: suffer now, enjoy the ride in October.
BD: Are there additional opportunities for readers to get involved either with your ride or with The Pablove Foundation?
BH: Absolutely! First and foremost, as a cyclist, I encourage everyone to get out there and get on a bike. Yes, they are still just as fun as they were when we were kids! From there, visit The Pablove Foundation website — www.pablove.org — for more info on how to get involved. This ride is just one initiative — there are lots of other ways to contribute!
BD: Are there any other events or activities that you are currently working on that you would like to share with our readers?
BH: I’m currently working on being the best husband and father and son and coworker and brother and neighbor and animal lover and burrito-eater and human that I can be. Gonna be at this one for a while, so feel free to follow along and do the same.
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell readers who want to donate to your fundraising campaign?
BH: Thanks in advance for your contribution, but know that it doesn’t have to be financial. If you don’t have a buck or million to throw our way, just send along a message of encouragement. All help is GREAT help.
If you have a volunteer opportunity or an important cause that could use the assistance of a few geeks, please email the details to barbra (at) fanbasepress (dot) com.
