Thunder John Finally Follows Through: We ARE the World

March 29, 2011
129,250 pushups completed
870,750 pushups to go
5,208 pushups ahead of schedule

Due to the runaway locomotive of popularity known as this blog, I find myself thrust into a position which I am unaccustomed to.  It goes by many names:  Hero, Idol, the Male Ideal.  I now know what Michaelangelo's David must feel like (except my guns are bigger), having to endure the adoring eyes of millions while perched high above the teeming masses.  Your cheers propel me on towards my goal of one million pushups in ten years.


Oh great.  Now I can't quit.  I can't fail.  I must make it to one million.

In light of this fact, I might as well put these pushups to good use.  So I've allied myself with two charities.  See details below. 

Nothing But Nets:
I've started "Thunder John's Nothing But Nets" team for the Nothing But Nets charity.  This charity is through the United Nations foundation; its goal is to provide insecticide coated nets for families in Africa.  3,000 children die of malaria in Africa every single day.  These nets will reduce that number.

This is a link to join the team
http://www.globalproblems-globalsolutions.org/site/TR/Events/NBN?px=2538282&pg=personal&fr_id=1040

And this is an article by former Sports Illustrated writer Rick Reilly that really puts in perspective how important this is, especially the last sentence.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/rick_reilly/04/25/reilly0501/index.html


Aidan's Army:
Aidan Manning is a local boy (Wheaton) who died of medulloblastoma in July 2010 just short of his third birthday.  Medulloblastoma is an aggressive brain tumor.  Read Aidan's Story, the charity's Mission statement and donate to this worthy charity through the link below:
http://www.aidansarmy.org/
The website allows you to donate through Paypal.  Unfortunately, the website has no facility for me to track donations.  So we'll have to go by the "honor system".  Send me an email at ThunderJohn@ThunderJohn.com and let me know if you donated to this worthy cause, and we'll enroll you in Thunder John's Incentive Program (details below):

Thunder John Incentive Program
As an added bonus, I've instituted Thunder John's Incentive program to encourage you to sponsor me.  A fixed amount donation is always welcome.  Or, you could pledge a certain amount per pushup.  At the end of each year 2011 - 2019, I will update this blog with my yearly total.  If you email me your pledge per pushup, I will invoice you so that you know EXACTLY how much to donate.  Once your donation for the year is made, I will email send you a Certificate of Membership at the appropriate level. 

Depending on your donation in any calendar year, you will achive status and be sent a certificate of membership in one of the following categories:

$1 - $5:           Pipsqueak
$5.01 - $10:    Pencil Necked Geek
$10.01 - $15:  Adlai Stevenson
$15.01 - $20:  Water boy
$20.01 - $25:  Scrappy Doo
$25.01 - $50:  Tier 1 Achiever:  Mighty Mouse
$51.01 - $75:  Tier 2 Achiever:  Hanz and Franz
$75.01 - $100:  Tier 3 Achiever:  Stallion Level
$100 - $1,000:   Thunder John's "Circle of Honor"
$1,000+:  Thunder John will personally send you a text* thanking you for your generosity

For instance, I did 105,000 pushups in 2010. If you sponsor me for $0.001 per pushup, you owe $105 and you will be a member of TJ's Circle of Honor. $0.0002 per pushup would necessitate a $21 donation and instant membership at the "Scrappy Doo" level. 


I hope you can support me in my quest to help these worthy charities, through the power of pushups. 

Peace out,
Thunder John

"Bringin' the pushups, packin' the pain, loaded with pushups - makin' it RAIN!"


* Normal texting charges apply

I just called... to say... I love pushups

March 4, 2011
122,700 pushups completed
877,300 pushups to go
5,504 pushups ahead of schedule

Haven't updated this blog in a month.  My pace has fallen off recently.  Took a week's vacation last week to Sanibel Island, FL and I'm paying for it at work... put in 60 billable hours this week (for me, that's a lot).  So please, take a moment to email words of encouragement to Thunder John at ThunderJohn @ThunderJohn.com.

Better Yet... I have always responded better to negative reinforcement than positive reinforcement.  So really sock it to me, call me a girlie man, tell me how I'll never make it to 1,000,000 pushups and I'll make it my mission to prove you wrong!  How DARE you!

Once work cools down, I plan to formalize my relationship with a charity and put these pushups to good use.  If you so choose, you may sponsor me per pushup.  Perhaps we can wipe out war, pestilence, famine and/or find a cure for baldness all through the power of pushups.

Peace,
Thunder John

Bringin' the pushups, packin' the pain, loaded with pushups - makin' it rain

Sponsor Thunder John and end his shame.  Coming soon.