Reframing Helene: Challenge, Community, and Walking for Asheville
Honoring the people of greater Asheville—and the Challenge Mindset that carried us through the storm.
I had planned to continue my series following The Crisis Facing Our Boys and Men, but the minute August clicked over into September… that changed.
Hurricane Helene’s anniversary falls on the 27th of this month. And quite honestly, there’s so much to unpack and share—both personally and for the community of Asheville.
Ironically, my background in Wilderness Therapy prepared me for Helene in ways I never expected. The mindset work, the skills, the resilience… they were all called upon during those weeks with no power or water. And they continue to shape how I process and respond today.
Why This Story, Why Now
Instead of focusing on my planned series about resilience and the Challenge Mindset, I’m devoting September to the story of Helene.
Hundreds died.
Thousands lost their homes.
Asheville’s tourism-driven economy was devastated.
But most of all, we discovered who we are when everything collapses.
I’ve always believed that true character reveals itself in struggle. Back in my twenties, when I started dating, I would quietly wish for some sort of challenge early in the relationship. Because what shows up under pressure tells you far more than any “honeymoon” period ever could.
This anniversary feels like the time to share my experience last year.
The Personal and the Collective
Last year, I wrote about my own experience, but publishing it felt tone-deaf in the face of so much devastation.
This year, I’ll share before-and-after photos. I’ll share the video of me crying while driving along the French Broad River for the first time after the storm. And I’ll share how, despite it all, the community rallied in extraordinary ways.
Because in times of great struggle, we learn that the chaos and hatred politicians and the media thrive on… doesn’t reflect how we actually live.
A book that captures this beautifully is Everyday Ubuntu: Living Better Together, The African Way by Mungi Ngomane (Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s granddaughter). Her 14 Lessons of Ubuntu will be my framework to reflect on how Asheville responded—not with division, but with connection, courage, and care.
Reframing Challenge: From Storm to Walk
Part of the Challenge Mindset is learning to reframe. To take something heavy, like the anniversary of a devastating hurricane, and find a way to reclaim the wheel of life.
For me, that means turning the anniversary weekend into something meaningful: walking the 4x4x48 Challenge.
4 miles, every 4 hours, for 48 hours.
David Goggins created it as a run—I’ll be walking.
My route climbs 338 ft each loop, totaling 4,056 ft (1,236.5 m).
My neighborhood of Montford, scarred and reshaped by the storm, will be my course.
Why this challenge?
I can do it right here, without travel.
I could choose the timing—the anniversary weekend felt right.
It ties to my 4 of my 5 highest values: purpose, health, empowerment, achievement.
And most importantly: it’s a way to raise funds for those still affected.
Who We’re Walking For: Bounty & Soul
Bounty & Soul is a community-driven nonprofit at the intersection of food, farms, and health. Their manifesto says it best:
Together, we are creating a food and health system where everyone has the opportunity to eat well, be nourished, and thrive.
When Helene struck, Bounty & Soul was on the ground helping people in Black Mountain and Swannanoa—alongside venues like White Horse, which raised nearly $250k in immediate aid. One of the beneficiaries was Bounty & Soul. Just look at their immediate impact they had:
They’ve since expanded their reach, even launching a food truck to bring healthy food directly into neighborhoods where scarcity is real.
And there’s a personal tie for me: Whole Foods, where I work, donates food that can no longer be sold but is still fresh and nutritious. I’ve seen firsthand the gratitude in people’s eyes when they receive those boxes.
That’s why every mile I walk will be dedicated to raising funds for Bounty & Soul.
Closing the Loop
March 27th, exactly six months before the anniversary, Whole Foods had their Community Giving day where a team of us volunteered with Bounty & Soul. It struck me then: the greatest loop you can close is not just donating, but seeing how your actions (donations or otherwise) tangibly impact real people.
That’s what this walk is about. That’s what this anniversary is about.
Reframing the storm, honoring the lives changed, and channeling challenge into community.
I hope you’ll join me.
I’m looking for 48 people to donate $1 per mile I complete which is $48 per person. Here’s the link to donate:
