Grind for Shelter 2010 – Media Summary | Vancouver Real Estate Blog

I guess that I should have known better. After all, I went through this at last year’s Grind for Shelter (the 2009 charity event at which I set a new record for the most ascents of the Grouse Grind in a single day). Soon after that event, I decided that I would do it again this year. I felt that I could do more.

=> Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation <=

In 2009, one of the challenges that I faced was the amount of media attention that my event garnered. It’s one thing to set out to accomplish an extraordinary physical challenge. It is quite another to do so while almost constantly being photographed, videod and interviewed. Your mind isn’t able to focus on the task at hand, rather you are constantly thinking of your “talking points”.

Being interviewed after Grind for Shelter

For the 2010 event media guru Crystal Reinitz, of Edelman Vancouver, once again volunteered her time to the event. It was her skill and knowledge that helped to draw media interest to the event in 2009, and I was confident that with her help again in 2010 the RLP Shelter Foundation would again benefit from a significant amount of public awareness.

So, the date was set for June 28th 2010. The goal was to reach the top of the Grouse Grind 14 times in a single day (it took me 17.5 hours) and to raise $15,000, as well as much awareness as possible for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation.

=> Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation <=

To tell you the truth, we had our doubts about how much interest there would be the second time around. Was it too soon after last year? Would there be a big news story on the day that would push our story to the background?

=> Grind4Shelter Media Coverage Summary <=

As it turned out, the media was interested in the story again. Very interested. Requests for interviews began as soon as the press release was sent out. City TV, Global TV and CTV all had news coverage of the event, as well as radio stations the Peak FM, CBC Radio and Virgin Radio. Just about every newspaper also sent reporters and photographers to cover the story including the Vancouver Sun, Vancouver Province, Metro News, the Georgia Straight and the North Shore News.

Being interviewed after Grind for Shelter

This year’s event was even more difficult than last. After all, I was attempting to do one extra Grind in the same amount of time. Finding the time and energy to attend to interviews was an added challenge. In order to achieve my physical goal, I knew that no time could be wasted…so interviews had to be fit in where a few seconds could be spared (at the top as I grabbed some food, on the gondola ride down, or at the base of the trail as I was about to begin another ascent).

I am truly grateful for all of the attention that we were able to generate for the event, and most importantly, the RLP Shelter Foundation. The RLP Shelter Foundation spends no money on advertising, which is why most of us have never heard of it. However, as Canada’s largest public source of funding for women’s shelters it plays a very important role in our society. I’m proud to say, that the Grind for Shelter events have generated more press for the foundation than any other event ever has.

=> Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation <=

Contact Sebastian, Vancouver Realtor or send me a quick email.