Would you brave the wilderness in unfamiliar territory for four days with minimal survival supplies accompanied by twenty-three strangers deriving from every corner of the nation all for the sake of raising money for charity?
Representing the Ashland County Cancer Association, I voyaged into the untamed Maine woodlands to compete against nearly two dozen other individuals, each embodying a corresponding charitable organization, in the first annual Can You Survive Charity Event. This competition was heavily influenced by the CBS hit reality television series Survivor and required considerable social skills, physical endurance and extensive strategy to best the other contestants.
Ultimately, I placed fifth and brought home $800 to the Ashland County Cancer Association — a local nonprofit that provides financial, nutritional, educational, emotional and spiritual support to Ashland County cancer patients. However, my journey to fifth place was not elementary.
The four-day event was organized in a way where no individual could be eliminated the first day; expulsions began the dawn of day two. Each participant was permitted to bring a sleeping bag, bug spray and sunscreen. Food, comfort items and cellular devices were strictly prohibited during the competition; although we were authorized to drink as much water as we desired.
On day one, the 24 players were split into three “tribes” of eight, each adorning a specified color. I landed on the pink team dubbed Palmyra.
Because elimination challenges did not occur until the second day, each day one trial rewarded the winning team with a prize meant to alleviate some aspect of the outdoor discomfort. For instance, the winning tribe of the first challenge gained the ability to choose which campsite their players would initially abide in.
There were five reward challenges on day one – – Palmyra won approximately zero of them. In result, night one was hellish. If it was not for the bond that was built among the likable and charismatic pink tribe, I may have lost hope and retired from the game.
We were awarded the worst campsite you could possibly imagine; think of a gravel driveway with grass growing in between the stone chunks – – that was our designated bedroom. Although I must admit that the master bathroom was quite spacious.
Palmyra was granted a tarp to shield us in the event of a tenacious downpour; however, there was no practical place to hang the device. When we decided on an ideal nesting area, we realized the territory was already occupied by serpents that did not seem like they wished to be disturbed.
We were presented with a jar of uncooked rice, but we failed to win fire so we were begrudgingly forced to gnaw on what resembled oversized beach sand for food.
Nightfall was supplemented with a militia of bloodsucking insects and a family of coyotes whose youngest pup seemed quite agitated, which was evident by the animal’s relentless high-pitched yelping mere feet away from our bedside.
A double rainbow that garnished the sky portended a glimmer of hope for day two.
Eliminations began to accrue on the second day, which called for intense mental awareness regarding my individual stake in the game. I decided to strive to complete one phase of the competition at a time.
Round by round, I survived vote-out after vote-out; eventually lingering into a tribe reshuffle and then into the inevitable merge. Even though my demise was realized at fifth place, I was thankful for my placement and proud of my longevity in the game.
The real victory was actualized through the friendships I made with the other players and the production crew. I could not have beckoned for a better group of people to be stranded with.
Whether it was the daily removal of the slugs that snuck into my sleeping bag or dining on a few surprisingly pleasant sips of handmade pine tree needle tea, I will forever treasure the adventures I experienced during my stay in New England.
Brandon Clark, host and Can You Survive architect, spent more than eight months manifesting the event. His dedication and respectability led to over $10,000 being raised for 24 charities across America.
Alicia Garza, Cameron Daniel and several other enthusiastic production members contributed to the success of the event.
Angela Young deserves a special shoutout for being my number one ally throughout the competition. Her heart, vigor and genuine integrity changed my life forever.
Albee Frankie, representing Feeding America, took home the $2,000 first place prize. His cunningness, adaptability and authenticity proved himself worthy of the triumph.
Below is a list of the players who took part in the Can You Survive Charity Event and their respective charities:
- Damian Sorensen – Spirit’s Place
- Barry Ishikawa – Unearth Potential
- Rob Mennuti – St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital
- Rebbecca Tuck – Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital
- Jackie Murphy – Pets for Vets
- Justin Morin – Bangor Humane Society
- Ciarra Berkowicz – Unearth Potential
- Patrick Gilchriest – Liverpool High School’s Adopt-a-Family
- Alejandro Rico – Undocuhuskies
- Logan Bard – Some Theatre Company
- Kadie Yannone – Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
- Emily Anderson – Center Theatre in Dover-Foxcroft
- Allen Yannone – Black Lives Matter
- Jodie Mosher-Towle – North Pond Association
- John Maroldo – Food For Life Global
- Caitlin Desaulniers – A Running Passion
- Stephanie Ogando – Stomp Out Bullying
- Elizabeth Padham – Travis Mills Foundation
- Chris Harper – Autism Society of Maine
- Angela Young – American Brain Tumor Association
- Sara Lacharite – Pets for Vets
- Crystal Putek – Project Sparrow
- Waylon O’Donnell – Ashland County Cancer Association
- Albee Frankie – Feeding America
