Why donate?
Cancer has great meaning in my life, and through early-stage biotech, I have had the fortune of working with incredibly talented scientists and innovators to advance cancer research and diagnostics. Cancer research is a long slog. It is slow, painful, full of ups and downs, but the result for patients is worthwhile. I’m proud to be fundraising for DRCRF. They are a special foundation, and I couldn’t ask for a better place to spend all $50,000 wisely.
100% of all donations fund cancer research and are tax-deductible. Thirteen Damon Runyon scientists have received the Nobel Prize, and others were directly involved in the development of landmark therapies like Herceptin, Erbitux, Yervoy, and Zelboraf. Analysis of 12 recently approved drugs showed Damon Runyon scientists playing an important role in all 12. They fund real high-risk, high-reward research.
In the lead up, I’ll be training hard and fundraising harder, but also having some fun with it. My wife Helen and I have always enjoyed hiking and board games. Last year, we made a game with our friends and got some modest success; to fundraise, we have been cooking up a new board game focused on hiking. We call it "Alpine Start."
What is Alpine Start?
An alpine start usually means an early start to the hike before the sun is up - that’s when you get the best conditions. We are instead inspired by some hiking buddies of ours who inevitably start the hike a bit late from over-indulging on the eve of the hike. The tortoise may win sometimes, but the hare has more fun.
Alpine Start is a simple card game about hiking with a healthy dose of dice and backstabbing. Glory goes to the hiker who parties the hardest the night before the big climb and still makes it to the summit before the sun sets. The game is professionally printed, suitable for the whole family, and we have been having a blast with the playtesting. The game is 3-8 players and 30-45 minutes to play through.
Everybody who donates above a certain amount will get a copy of the game for free - 100% of your donation still goes directly to cancer research. Of course, the more you donate, the better the rewards are…
Thank you so much for your interest in supporting me and the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation on this journey. It means the world.
Very sincerely,
Andrew Warren
Follow my training journey: @SurelyAndrew on x/twitter
Questions? Reach out: andrew.warren11@gmail.com
Donation tiers
Make sure to leave your contact information on the donation page; if you don’t hear from me within a week of donating, PLEASE reach out. This is also all for fun, too - so if you want a more creative reward, get in touch.
The ~final print of the game should arrive in March or April; alpha copies should come sooner!
Namche Bazaar - $75 donation
- Sticker and thank you note
Nangkartshang Peak - $150 donation
- 1 copy of "Alpine Start"
- Sticker and thank you note
Everest Base Camp - $250 donation
- 2 copies of “Alpine Start” (great for gifting!)
- Sticker and thank you note
Khumbu Icefall - $500 donation
- Choice of:
- 1 alpha copy of Alpine Start (arrives quickest!)
- 1 copy of our previous board game, “Crypto Beach”
- 1 copy of “Alpine Start”
- Sticker and thank you note
South Col - $1,000 donation
- Collaborative design of custom holographic expansion cards
- 1 alpha copy of “Alpine Start” (arrives quickest!), plus play testing
- 1 copy of “Alpine Start”
- Sticker and thank you note
Everest Peak - contact for details, startup rates available!
- Corporate game night at your location (Boston, NYC, SF)
- Name on Andrew's banner brought up to Everest Base Camp
- Collaborative design of custom holographic expansion cards
- 10 copies of “Alpine Start"