When Erich first told me about his plan to live on a raft while drifting down the Mississippi River for 2 months, I thought the pressures of life had finally gotten to him and he had cracked. This did not sound like a good idea for a guy that knew nothing about boating, or, the river. This seemed like the desperate actions of a man not well advised by others. However, after learning more about the goal and seeing how much effort he had already put into planning this voyage, I started to realize that he was not only serious, but prepared to do something dramatic.

Erich was desperate for good reason.

The world had just been upended by COVID 19 and the impact that was having on charitable organizations was profound. Donations had gone to virtually zero and the organization he had committed so much of his life towards in recent years was now in jeopardy. If fundraising events were not able to be held and people were uncertain about their ability to give because of the economic situation, how would Spare Key survive? That was a difficult but real question he had to ask himself. What drew me to be part of this event was his answer. As we gamblers like to say, Erich decided to go all in. Go big or go home. However you want to say it, he had to do something bold to try and raise money for the organization he loved. And that is exactly what he did. He didn’t wait around hoping for someone else to help Spare Key, he took it upon himself to take action. That kind of guts is something I appreciate and respect.  I wasn’t sure if he would actually make it all the way to the end, but I knew he was going to give it his all to make this thing work and I wanted to help in any way I could.

Success, in my mind, had already been accomplished before Erich even set sail on that garden shed on a raft. The success was his willingness to sacrifice his own good for the good of something else. To demonstrate that kind of faith and commitment to a cause made the idea successful no matter how much money was raised. Today, the organization is here and growing because of that faith and commitment. Not because of the raft trip itself, but, because of the type of leadership Erich demonstrated. Yes, he absolutely needed help along the way and did not do this alone. Many, many people had to step up and do various things to keep Erich alive and the trip a success. After all, he doesn’t necessarily have the world’s best outdoor survival skills. However, when you demonstrate that kind of leadership, people are willing to follow and help. While St. Christopher watched over his raft, his family, friends and Spare Key staff watched over every other detail. In the end, not only did Spare Key achieve their financial goals, but I’m sure Erich and those involved grew as people both spiritually and emotionally.

The experience will be one that he will remember for a multitude of reasons.

Being a small part of Erich’s big journey was something all of us at Lend Smart Mortgage were proud to say we were involved with. We believe in the mission of Spare Key. We all feel strongly that families who have medical challenges can use all the help we can give. Spare Key does fantastic work by taking away one of the worries those families have so they can focus on the things that really matter. That is why we wanted to be involved with this adventure. We wanted to do our part to help see this organization through some very difficult times. Although I’m not sure Erich would do this again, we are all glad that he did it once. The stories that came from it are entertaining at their least and inspirational at their best.

Congratulations and thank you Erich for your leadership during these challenging times.