Recap: A HUGE Success!

 Our Spartans For the Philippines Team at the finish line! (Minus a sick CP)

I'm so happy to say that both our relief trip to Ormoc and Spartan Race were a huge success! A huge thank you to everyone who helped us along the way generously donating their time and effort to this project, especially Jeff and Fretzel Enecio, the volunteer organizers behind Yolanda Relief, Krizzia May Tarrayo, one of the dedicated volunteers, Andy Pascua, who provided the hotel for our athletes before race-day, all those who donated money and clothing and last but not least, those who ran the Spartan Race for the survivors of Typhoon Haiyan. It's was a lot of people coming together for a good cause, but it really paid off. I don't think any other charitable organization can boast 100% of donations going directly to survivors, but we can!

Your generous donations allowed us to purchase 800 kilograms of rice! Yes, you read that correctly! 800! as well as 300 meters of heavy duty tarp, a material extremely valued by those whose houses and tenements have been destroyed by the storm.  Additionally, we were able to focus on the children of these families by packing pencils, sharpeners, crayons, notebooks and coloring books into bags for 150 kids, as well as provide much needed footwear for kids with 140 pairs of flip-flops. We were also able to distribute hundreds of canned goods, instant noodles and snacks in addition to the 100 pounds of clothing donated by friends and family here in LA.

Needless to say, organizing, packing, transporting and distributing these goods took a lot of effort. Most of the credit goes once again to Jeff and Fretzel Enecio. Please take a look at the pictures below and stay posted for a video of the relief trip that Jeff is putting together :D

 We packed up all the supplies in the boat, and set off from Cebu to Ormoc on rough seas.

 

 This is what is left of the Port of Ormoc, reduced to rubble and rocks.

This roof at the port is still in dis-repair, also, Ormoc is still without electricity since the storm.

 The Enecio Family kindly donated the use of their pick-up truck for all our distribution efforts.

Here we are in Ormoc purchasing 800 kilograms of rice. It took the better part of a day to divide these into 3 kilogram bags for distribution. Have you ever seen so much rice in your life!?

 Here in Sitio Canlugo (Spelling), citizens are very organized thanks to the local leadership, and line up in anticipation of relief distribution.

 The children take after their folks, lining up with a lot of excitement for the flip-flops and school supplies.

 Here we are in another Barangay, donating bags containing rice, instant noodles, canned goods and clothing items.

 And the children, again looking forward to the new footwear and school supplies.