In addition to making a positive difference for themselves, individuals working with the Human Conditioned are also making a positive impact on the lives of others. Here are some of the ways these individuals are changing lives and making the world a better place.

The Length of the Lake

Established by the founder of The Human Conditioned, Allen Russell, in order to raise money for a nursing scholarship in his mother’s memory, The Length of the Lake is the realization of a long-time goal to swim the length of Lake Powell. The original intent was to swim from Bullfrog to Wahweap.  Due to logistical considerations unique to 2020, the course was modified and the 100+ miles was completed from a basecamp at Stanton Creek.

Allen became passionate about nursing when his mother was admitted, with dementia, to Mantey Heights Rehabilitation and Care Center to spend her final days. The attention and care that she, and all of the residents received from nurses who worked long hours with heavy caseloads was exemplary. Throughout the journey leading up to this it was evident that in many cases our health care providers are working to their limits to provide compassionate care.

The end goal is to generate $25,000 dollars to establish the Phyllis Russell Memorial Nursing Scholarship as an endowment. The scholarship will be rewarded to a Colorado Mesa University nursing student each semester and as an endowment would be self-sustaining.  Furthermore, he hopes to inspire others to join him and give to young, bright, and talented students.

Russell, who still plans to complete the trip from Bullfrog to Wahweap, says, “My mother would have given the shirt off of her back to someone in need and was always the one to offer to help when another took ill. In her own way she was a nurse and I was fortunate to have such a caring mother.

Gifts may be made to the Phyllis Russell Memorial Nursing Scholarship through the CMU Foundation. The CMU Foundation serves as a charitable non-profit organization under the Internal Revenue Service 501 © (3) designation.

Donations may be made online at www.supporting CMU.com/give-now (please designate other and enter “Phyllis Russell Memorial Scholarship”).
Checks may be made payable to:
CMU Foundation
Attn: Phyllis Russell Memorial Scholarship
1450 N. 12th Street
Grand Junction, CO 81501

Elevate Kids

Melinda and Doug are an ordinary couple living in Grand Junction Colorado that did the extraordinary this past July. Over the years the couple has mountain biked the trail completely 3 times. After these past trips on the trail the couple started wondering if they could run the entire trail. Using their past experience with the CT, they began training and planning. This past summer the couple completed the entire 490 mile trail by running it. The project started out as a personal challenge to push their limits and see what they could do physically.
Melinda came up with the idea of turning the run into a fundraiser to raise money to help the school their daughter Alison attends, Intermountain Adventist Academy. Then one day when talking to a networking colleague at their local BNI chapter he asked if they were creating a documentary of their trip. This started the wheels turning and after some thought the couple decided to make a documentary of their trail run.
As planning continued it was decided to find another non-profit to raise money for besides the school. In their search for a cause that they resonated with they came across Kids Aid Backpack Program in Grand Junction, CO. This program provides backpacks of food to kids that otherwise wouldn’t have food to eat over the weekend. These kids rely on school meals for their meals. Kids Aid helps to bridge the gap over the weekends by providing a backpack of food each Friday.
So far the fundraiser has raised $21,573 towards their goal of $100,000.

To learn more about this project visit https://helpelevatekids.com/ or follow them at https://www.facebook.com/helpelevatekids

Watch the documentary: https://chasingtheskymovie.com/

Meals on Wheels of Mesa County

Meals on Wheels Mesa County is dedicated to continuing service to the 1,500 seniors it serves annually.