Climbing for a Cause: Brittney Woodrum on her Goal to Summit the Colorado 14ers Carrying a ShelterBox

Climbing Colorado’s 58 Fourteeners is a rite of passage for every aspiring mountaineer. Towering over 14,000 feet, these mountains rank as some of the tallest and most challenging in North America, and this summer Brittney “Bert” Woodrum has made it her mission to summit all 58 peaks with the iconic ShelterBox on her back to raise awareness and funding for international disaster relief. 

Her trek will take place July through September of 2020.

She shares, “I’m always searching for creative ways to combine my love for the outdoors with my passion for service…and it’s funny, but it seems the less I have, the happier I am. When I moved to Myanmar a couple years ago, I was living in a Buddhist nunnery to help start a language school. While there, the nuns taught me a lot about the idea of ‘impermanence.’ With a desire to learn more, I eagerly dove into their way of life, shaving my hair and donating nearly everything I owned. These women became my entire life: they were my students, my friends, my teachers, and my sisters, and I still remember how surreal it all seemed. These women had nothing compared to life I was used to, yet their lives were overflowing with joy and purpose. This was where I learned the true meaning of community, and a little over a year later when I hiked the Appalachian Trail (AT), these lessons seemed to resurface all over again.

I am a big believer in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. On the bottom of the pyramid you have your physical staples, such as food, water and shelter. On the AT, I never worried about finding those foundational necessities, but I did play a significant role in acquiring those things each and every day. Being able to ensure that those around me had what they needed to survive gave me an immense amount of fulfillment; however, it also made me realize how many people don’t have that sense of security.

That’s what really drives me. No one should have to worry about where their shelter will come from, and that’s why I was really struck by ShelterBox’s mission.”

Since 2000, ShelterBox staff and volunteers have helped to shelter more than 1.5 million people in more than 100 countries around the world, and with 85 million people displaced around the world, emergency shelter is needed now more than ever given complications brought on by the current pandemic. Despite these challenges, ShelterBox continues to support families after disaster.  Coronavirus reminds us of the fundamental importance of home to our health and well-being. All of our lives are being affected by coronavirus in some way, but those living in refugee camps or in makeshift settlements are particularly vulnerable.

To ensure that ShelterBox can continue to serve vulnerable populations across the planet during this medical and economic emergency, Bert’s goal is to raise $1,400 per mountain for a total donation of $82,000, all for ShelterBox’s current COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. To help reach her fundraising goals, she is currently seeking monetary donations and/or Gifts in Kind to help support her efforts and ShelterBox’s mission. To learn more, please visit her site.

Brittney Woodrum is currently pursuing a master’s in Humanitarian Assistance at the University of Denver. In her free time, she enjoys studying languages, cycling, and hiking. Feel free to reach out at: brittney.woodrum (at) gmail.com 

Affiliate Disclosure

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek's ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. Thanks for your support!

To learn more, please visit the About This Site page.

Comments 1

  • Mr Maps : Jun 6th

    Hi Red,
    Very cool, good luck!
    Mr Maps

    Reply

What Do You Think?