This September 30 through October 6, I’ll be heading west for my 11th annual Iron Phi running trip, exploring the vast state of Montana. From National Parks (Yellowstone & Glacier) and college towns (Bozeman & Missoula) to scenic highways and rugged towns in between, I’ll be combining my love of running, travel, and philanthropy for an amazing week with my pal Kerrie Herren. Kerrie and I go back to our early days as Phi Delta Theta Leadership Consultants and have remained great friends since.

The Goal:

Leave ALS better than I found it by visiting 100 Montana landmarks, recognizing a donor at each stop, and raising ~$5,000 for Iron Phi, bringing my lifetime fundraising total to $50,000.

The Cause:

As always, I’m raising funds for Iron Phi, a program I helped launch through Phi Delta Theta to support those impacted by ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) while developing leadership in college men. Since 2010, more than 14,000 individuals have registered for Iron Phi, over 3,100 have become Iron Phis by raising at least $1,000 while completing an athletic challenge, and together we’ve raised more than $6.3 million.

Iron Phi partners closely with the Live Like Lou Foundation, founded by my friend and mentor Neil Alexander and his wife Suzanne following Neil’s ALS diagnosis. With the continued support of Phi Delta Theta, Live Like Lou has grown into a national leader in the fight against ALS. Together we’re supporting families, funding promising research, creating awareness, and honoring Lou Gehrig’s legacy while working every day to Leave ALS Better Than We Found It.

To celebrate the generosity of those who donate, I’ll once again be bringing back my favorite tradition—the landmark scavenger hunt. Below is the list of destinations I’ll be visiting throughout the trip. When you make a donation, you can claim one or more of the landmarks, and you’ll receive personalized thank-you photo from that location recognizing your generosity. I’ll be blogging throughout the week, so you’ll be able to follow along as I travel across Big Sky Country. Make sure to include which landmark(s) you want to support when you make your donation. Runner’s Choice stops are spontaneous locations that I’ll discover along the way.

You can make a donation by clicking any of the “Make a Donation” buttons below that will take you to my fundraising page. If you’d prefer to donate by check (made out to Iron Phi), just send me a me an email (sgood@phideltatheta.org) for my mailing address.

The Schedule

Day 1 – Bozeman

• Trout Mural – Drew Miller
• Baxter Hotel – Debbie Smith
• Montana State University – $50
• Spirit the Bobcat Statue – Brad & Mindy Carlson
• Bobcat Stadium – Jennifer Morrow
• Museum of the Rockies – Elissa Christmas
• Gallagator Trail – $40
• Peets Hill / Burke Park Overlook – Laurie Rosenberger
• Crystal Bar – Jeremy Smith
• M Trail – Renee Crist Lefter
• MAP Brewing – Chris Hill
• Mountains Walking Brewing – Andy Tu
• Runner’s Choice – Stephen Bloomer
• Runner’s Choice – David & April Etler
• Runner’s Choice – $25

Day 2 – Yellowstone National Park

• Paradise Valley – $40
• Roosevelt Arch – Andrew Cole
• Mammoth Hot Springs – Colin Hueser
• Norris Geyser Basin – Scott Mietchen
• Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone – Scott Lynch
• Artist Point – Keith Wysocki
• Hayden Valley – $50
• Yellowstone Lake – Debbie Purdy
• Old Faithful – Mike Hyatt
• Old Faithful Inn – Roger Heineken
• Grand Prismatic Spring – Mike Scarlatelli
• Midway Geyser Basin Trail – $40
• Fountain Paint Pot Trail – $40
• West Yellowstone – Nat Love
• Runner’s Choice – Calvin Good
• Runner’s Choice – Bill & Lindy Good

Day 3 – Yellowstone to Helena

• Big Sky, MT – Geoff & Hope Wood
• Big Sky Resort – Mike Hyatt
• Gallatin Canyon – Ryan & Nicole Galles
• Three Forks, MT – Bob Sherwin
• Missouri River Headwaters – Dylan Berg
• Montana State Capitol – Linda Carlson
• Last Chance Gulch – $40
• Cathedral of Saint Helena – Winters Family
• Reeder’s Alley – Bill & Lindy Good
• Guardian of the Gulch – $40
• Mount Helena Trail – Taylor & Haley Abel
• Runner’s Choice – Stephen Bloomer
• Runner’s Choice – $25
• Runner’s Choice – $25

Day 4 – Missoula

• Missoula County Courthouse – Robbie Nunes
• The Wilma – $30
• Brennan’s Wave – Kelly Caughlin
• Caras Park – $30
• Draught Works Brewery – Ross & Megan Roti
• Ogren Park at Allegiance Field – Kyle Prager
• Grizzly Statue – Ryan & Nicole Galles
• Beartracks Bridge – $40
• University of Montana – Ken Maikowski
• The Oval – Sean & Michelle Wagner
• Adams Center – Tim Bell
• Washington-Grizzly Stadium – Brad & Mindy Carlson
• Kim Williams Trail – Linda Carlson
• Mount Sentinel “M” – Ken Maikowski
• Runner’s Choice – Loonsfoot Family
• Runner’s Choice – $25

Day 5 – Missoula to Whitefish

• CSKT Bison Range – Tom & Colleen Good
• Polson, MT – $40
• Flathead Lake – Debbie Smith
• Cherry Orchards – $30
• Bigfork, MT – Geri Murray
• Hungry Horse Dam – Kevin Marks
• Whitefish – Mike Hyatt
• Whitefish Lake – $40
• Whitefish City Beach – $30
• Danny On Trail – Andy Tu
• Runner’s Choice – Laurie Rosenberger
• Runner’s Choice – $25
• Runner’s Choice – $25

Day 6 – Glacier National Park

• Apgar Village – $40
• Lake McDonald – Andrew McGuire
• Going-to-the-Sun Road – Josh Ehlen
• Avalanche Lake – Josh Ehlen
• Trail of the Cedars – Taylor & Haley Abel
• Bird Woman Falls Overlook – Tiffany Conrad
• Paradise Meadow – David & April Etler
• Logan Pass – Tom & Colleen Good
• Hidden Lake Overlook – Andy Tu
• Highline Trail – Drew Miller
• Jackson Glacier Overlook – Kyle & Ashley Schilling
• Sun Point Overlook – $50
• Wild Goose Island Overlook – Ross & Megan Roti
• St. Mary Lake – Josh Ehlen
• Runner’s Choice – $25
• Runner’s Choice – $25
• Runner’s Choice – $25

Day 7 – Many Glacier

• Many Glacier Entrance – Brad & Kelly Becker
• Many Glacier Hotel – Brad & Mindy Carlson
• Swiftcurrent Lake – Bob Sherwin
• Swiftcurrent Lake Trail – Tim Bell
• Highway 2 – $40
• Kalispell, MT – $40
• Runner’s Choice – $25
• Runner’s Choice – $25
• Runner’s Choice – $25

I hope you’ll join me on another incredible adventure by supporting Iron Phi and the fight against ALS. Every donation helps fund critical ALS research, provides support for families living with the disease, and empowers college students to become leaders through service, perseverance, and philanthropy.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Sincerely,
Steve