I don’t normally do this as you know, but messing with the way this note and news release were written would be just plain wrong. Dave Bennett from Xposure PR reached out to us with this info, and a beauty of a photo of bandana-wearing, survivalist-looking Brent Hesje.
I laughed my behind off. Well done Dave and Brent. Worthwhile read, and more worthwhile charity.
Here is Dave’s cover note:
This is an unusual and fun story about a tire retailing and automotive/truck service CEO who is being stranded on a remote mountain until he raises $100,000 for Western Canada’s Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS).
Fountain Tire’s Brent Hesje is seeking your help in publicizing his wilderness experience in hopes of raising enough money to help him get off the mountain.
Hesje and three other prominent Alberta-based CEOs are being airlifted into the Rockies via helicopter on October 4 as part of a unique fundraiser called CEO Rescue in the Rockies for STARS. The CEOs, equipped only with their smartphone, must survive in the wilderness until they reach their fundraising target. Funds raised will support the STARS mission of providing a safe, rapid, highly specialized emergency medical transport system for the critically ill and injured.
Brent is appealing to his industry colleagues and car enthusiasts for help him to get off the mountain by donating. STARS shares the industry’s commitment to safe driving, vehicle maintenance and equipping vehicles with tires that are right for road conditions.
The full news release is pasted below. Included is a photo caption (photo attached, jpeg file). The link embedded in the news release and photo caption will take visitors to entertaining videos of Brent’s wilderness experience and enable donations.
I will be in touch shortly to gauge your interest in this story.
And the news release…
Fountain Tire CEO Stranded on Mountain: Tire retailing and automotive service CEO, Brent Hesje, takes fundraising to new heights – his only way out is by helicopter
Edmonton, October 1, 2013 – Equipped only with his smartphone, Fountain Tire CEO, Brent Hesje, will be “dialling” for donations on Oct. 4 from a remote Alberta mountain side as part of a unique fundraiser to support Western Canada’s Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS).
Hesje and three other prominent Alberta-based CEOs will be dropped into Kananaskis Country via helicopter as part of the CEO Rescue in the Rockies for STARS.
Each CEO must survive in the wilderness and earn their rescue by remaining on the mountain and conquering challenges until they raise $100,000.
The survivalist CEOs will race to be the fastest to raise $100,000 and to be the first to be “rescued” by a STARS helicopter and flown to safety in Calgary.
Funds raised will support the STARS mission of providing a safe, rapid, highly specialized emergency medical transport system for the critically ill and injured. The air ambulance service operates out of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba from bases in Calgary, Edmonton, Grand Prairie, Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg.
Hesje is appealing to his colleagues in the tire and automotive service sectors and auto enthusiasts to help him get off the mountain. To experience Brent’s wilderness adventure first hand and make a donation, visit www.rescuebrent.com.
“Since its founding in 1985, STARS has saved the lives of hundreds of critically ill and injured patients, many of whom were victims of serious road accidents,” says Hesje. “STARS is worthy of our industry’s support. They share our commitment to promoting safe driving, vehicle maintenance and equipping vehicles with tires that are right for road conditions. I’ll have a lucky charm or two with me, but I could definitely use some support to get me off the mountain. Please step up and help STARS keep operating and in our skies.”
We all hope Brent succeeds…and then gets some post-trauma therapy. Lord knows, it looks like he needs it!
