by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
On Saturday, Oct. 21, Ben Borgert of Sartell will set out to drive all the way from Lakeville to the Canadian border and back again – a 621-mile trip, all on one tank of gas.
No, he’s not doing it for kicks – well, not entirely anyway; he’s doing it to raise money – a goal of $1,000 – for Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare Hospital in St. Paul. The renowned non-profit facility treats children suffering from complex conditions, rare disorders and traumatic injuries.
Borgert will also raise money for the hospital Nov. 4 as part of a team effort in Inver Grove Heights.
Dubbed “Chariot for the Kids,” Borgert’s motorized trek will take him from Lakeview all the way up Hwy. 61 to Duluth and the North Shore up through Grand Portage Park and then back on the same route. His “chariot” will be his trusty 2015 Volkswagen Jetta. On the return journey, he will make an overnight rest stop at the home of his uncle and aunt near Schroeder. The only other stop he plans to make is to get some of the delicious donuts at the the World’s Best Donuts shop in Grand Marais because Oct. 21, the day of his trip, will be the last day of the year the shop is open until next year.
As Borgert drives alone, he will live-stream the trip from inside his vehicle so loved ones and others can keep up with his progress and comments along the way. He will also post live updates on Twitch and on his Facebook. People can access all of those platforms – and donate to Borgert’s effort – by going to: https://www.extra-life.org/participant/benborgert
“It will be a bit of a challenge for sure,” Borgert said. “It should be possible to do, but I’m not certain.”
To make the one tank of gas last, Borgert plans to watch his speed, keeping it consistent; he won’t use his car heater or air-conditioning; he’ll keep the windows closed and not use cruise control.
He will begin his “Chariot for the Kids” journey at 6 a.m. from a gas station near the freeway at Lakeville.
Extra Life
Borgert’s “Chariot for the Kids” is just the latest unique way he dreamed up to raise money for Gillette Children’s Hospital. He’s been doing fundraisers for the hospital for eight years under the rubric of “Extra Life,” a nationwide fundraiser for the Children’s Miracle Network of hospitals.
The Extra Life fundraiser happens on Nov. 4 across the nation, and on that day Borgert will be part of the Minnesota Direwolves, a team of 63 people who will play games for a full 24 hours Nov. 4 at the River Heights Vineyard Church in Inver Grove Heights. There team members play games for a full 24 hours – computer games, video games, board games – while taking pledges.
The people on the team are all part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Guild – guild being the name for subdivisions of the fundraising/awareness-raising groups throughout the nation. Each team member can donate the money raised to a children’s hospital of his or her choice.
Borgert’s “Chariot for the Kids” trek is his own individual way of raising more money for Gillette Children’s Hospital. Years ago, he used to donate blood platelets and would donate the $200 he was given for his donations. But when he moved from the Twin Cities area to Sartell, there was no facility in the area that could do separation of platelets from donated blood so Borgert began exploring other fundraising ideas. The latest one is his long motoring journey, which he calls a marathon, of sorts.
Background
Borgert grew up in St. Cloud, then moved to the Twin Cities for college. While there, he worked for Orbit Systems, and through a co-worker he joined the Extra Life fundraising activities for children’s hospitals. The co-worker, Justin Nielsen of Mendota Heights, is still captain of the fundraising team with Borgert also a team organizer.
Nielsen had heard of Extra Life via the Internet, and that is how he became involved nine years ago. Borgert joined Extra Life eight years ago. His personal fundraising goal was $1,000, an amount he succeeded in raising in each of the past four years.
In 2014, Borgert moved from the Twin Cities to Sartell. He is an employee of Marco office supplies in St. Cloud, and there are numerous Marco fellow-employees on the Extra Life fundraising team.
Since he became a fundraiser for Gillette Children’s Hospital, Borgert has been astonished by how many people he meets who know a child or a child’s family helped by that hospital and who always have rave reviews about the expert and compassionate care they received at that hospital.
Borgert is pleased that 100 percent of all money raised goes directly to Gillette to benefit the patients and their families. That is why Borgert is hoping people donate what they can afford to a very good cause.
Ben Borgert stands beside the Volkswagen Jetta he will attempt to drive 621 miles on one tank of gas Oct. 21 to raise funds for Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare Hospital in St. Paul. This will be the eighth year of Borgert’s fundraising for the hospital. He will also take part in a team fundraiser Nov. 4 in Inver Grove Heights, also for Gillette.
Ben Borgert of Sartell plays “Elite Dangerous” at his home to prepare for a 24-hour game-playing marathon Nov. 4 that will raise funds for the Children’s Miracle Network of hospitals, specifically for Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare hospital in St. Paul.
