Greetings Tribe,
I recently was pleasantly surprised to see Jenn Drummond as a GORUCK Brand Ambassador, as I know Jenn well and had her as a guest on my podcast, Living a Life in Full. (A quick note about the show ā weāre in our 8th season, ListenNotes ranks us in the top 5% of podcasts, weāre on 65+ Platforms, and we have a 4M+ aggregated audience reach ā more samples below.)
This spurred me to reach out as I am quite committed to rucking in general, and GORUCK in particular. Iām a member of Tribe in Training and I have your sandbag kit, a ruck and plates, and a vest and plates. Iāve done the Selma 54, OWR, The Murph (2022 and 2025), Ruck for Research (for a different organization), and Iām signed up to ruck the 2025 9/11 Heroes Run for Travis Manion Foundation
I would like to be considered as a GORUCK Ambassador and become a contributing member of the GORUCK Squad. It would be personal honor to join not only Jenn, but also Nick, Lexi, Nick, Cody, Jared, Steph, Bill, and Eric
I truly resonate with your ethos of Challenging Excellence and to Do Right by People in the spirit of making a difference in the lives of others. I have worked to do so throughout my life and career as the founder of a global health 501(c)3 nonprofit (The Center for Global Initiatives, Summits for Others, and Racing to Help Others), serving veterans, active-duty military and their families, and others as Chief Clinical Officer for Prevail Health, and as a Flotilla and Division Staff Officer in the Auxiliary Branch of the US Coast Guard, Flotilla 47-2, District 9WR.
Here is a rundown of my bona fides for your consideration (images and content have live links for details)
Climbing
I have summited 3 of the Worldās Seven Summits (thus far), along with Mt. Whitney (the highest peak in the continental United States), Yosemiteās Half Dome, Mt. Rainer, and with my daughter both Inspiration Point in the Grand Teton National Park and Coloradoās Pikes Peak, Mt. Athabasca (Canada), Adamās Peak (Sri Lanka), numerous other non-expedition walls, and a ton of stair climbs in Chicago. I served as a certified climbing instructor for my local YMCA and built a wall in our basement when our children were little.
Summits for Others
Having a penchant for challenges, wanting to help others, having a background in working on international humanitarian aid and medical service projects, and being a tad bit creative and enjoying climbing, I founded summits for others. The idea being with every climb I do, I do so as a fundraiser for The Center for Global Initiatives in order to help to raise not only funds, but also awareness. I have already paid for all travel costs, so every penny donated goes to the work of the Center and is 100% tax deductible.
Someone once said, āNo summit can change who you are, it merely changes the way you see who you are.ā
I have learned of the power of the individual and the collective team, the power and the importance of my family and faith, and the many metaphorical climbing and life. After climbing, I bring back the typical trinkets to family and friends, but for myself, I bring back more personal souvenirs of hope, inspiration, and renewal.
I have taken up mountain climbing (as very much an amateur). In doing so, I have set out to do the Seven Summits - reaching the top of the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. I have been fortunate to have summited three of the easy ones so far: Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa; Mt. Elbrus, Europe (Russia); and Mt. Kosciusko, Australia. I have also made it to the tops of Mt. Whitney (the highest peak in the continental United States), Yosemiteās Half Dome, Mt. Rainer, and with my daughter (Annika) both Inspiration Point in the Grand Teton National Park and Coloradoās Pikes Peak.
The Parallels
Mountaineering is quite similar to working on global health problems:
* Both involve big, and seemingly insurmountable tasks,
* Both take the help of others in order to reach the goal,
* Both deal with risks, and
* Both require large doses of planning, teamwork, concentrated effort, and hope.
The Goal
We hope to raise funds for food, medications, and educational supplies for patients and orphaned children (ages 3 to 12 years) with every climb we go on. We are working to treat malaria, TB, pneumonia, and immunosuppression in collaboration with local doctors, nurses, and staff. We have a particular focus on people with HIV infection and AIDS in the Kilimanjaro Region of the Rombo District.
Jesse Itzlerās 29029 āEverestingā
My YouTube video on 29029.
My LinkedIn Top Voice article on Ethics and Climbing.
Backstory and Weirdo Challenges
As a little boy, I was obese (particularly a bummer when you consider my last name). I had orthopedic issues and did not have my first pair of Keds until I was twelve. My parents divorced before I was one year-old, and I lived with my single working mom and grandmother. Thus, no playing catch, no riding a bike, not even running. Things had to change, so at age 13 I got into exercise and nutrition and lost 64 pounds, and since I have run ultramarathons, climbed three of the world's Seven Summits, dove the Great Barrier Reef, and completed a number of what I like to call Weirdo Challenges
My LinkedIn Top Voice Article on my Weirdo Challenges
Some details...
Alpinism: I have climbed three of the worldās Seven Summits (the tallest mountain on each of the seven continents ā Africa, Russia/Europe, and Australia, so far), along with Rainier, HalfDome, Pikes Peak, Tetons, Whitney (tallest in the lower 48), Athabasca, Adamās Peak (Sri Lanka), and other rock and ice climbs.
ā¢ Sorta Climbing: Raced up āThe Big Three of Skyscraper Stair Climbs (Willis Tower, Hancock and Aon Buildings), in Chicago a number of seasons; and others elsewhere; and the Everest Challenge as well as Jesse Itzlerās crazy 29029 Everesting.
ā¢ On Foot: Marathons, 10 Milers, 10Ks, 5Ks, Tough Mudderās and a variety of other obstacle runs, along with organized as well as unsupported ultras (double marathon, 50K, 50 Mile, and 100K distances), and Colin OāBradyās 12 Hour Walk, and survived Running with the Bulls.
ā¢ With a Gun: Summer biathlon (running and target shooting with a 22-cal. rifle).
ā¢ With a Gun (but standing still): I participated in a Competitive Marksmanship League and met the scoring standard for an expert qualification
ā¢ On 2 Wheels: Hilly Hundreds, Millenium Club Member (high milage), Centuries, Metric Centuries, 50 Miler, and Criterium Racing.
ā¢ On Both Foot and Wheels (but no gun): Duathlon.
ā¢ On 2 Wheels (but with a motor): Earned my license from the Western Eastern (Motorcycle) Roadracing Association.
ā¢ On 4 Wheels (also with a motor): Land Speed Racing (set 2 records at the Arkansas Mile), Ultimate Street Car Challenge at Road America, and Podiumed at the Mountain Mille Road Rally, 2024.
ā¢ In the Air: Flew an Advanced Aerobatic Marchetti SF ā 260 doing Air Combat (and stalled the engine mid-loop!)
ā¢ Underwater: Dived the Blue Hole, Narco dived, swam with dolphins, shark dived, night dived in Honduras, and dived the Great Barrier Reef.
ā¢ Strength Based: Tank Curling, The Murph Challenge, The 100 Ton Club, and Strongman Stone Lifting.
ā¢ Joined the Polar Bear Club diving into Lake Michigan on New Yearās Day.
ā¢ And other āWeirdo Challenges.ā
Hammer Nutrition Sponsored Athlete In 2024 I served as one of their Brand Ambassadors and for 2025, I became one of their Sponsored Athletes, joining a deep bench of amazing folks.
This is a combination of Motorsports (and Racing to Help Others), Adventure Sports, and Endurance Sports.
Here is the start of my Hammer Nutrition YouTube Playlist vis-Ć -vis Unboxing.
And, attached is my 2025 Hammer Sponsored Athlete Log Book
Mr. Health and Fitness, 4th Place 2024
The Life List ā This is a Big One and includes the whole shebang!
Athletic Summary with Links
Living a Life in Full Athletic Guest Sampler (click on images to listen)
And coming 1 September - David Kelly, MD, on the Adventure of a Lifetime: The Great World Race
Thanks for taking the time to read all this.
My apologies for it being so long and linked filled, but please take that as a representation of my deep and sincere interest in supporting GORUCK and my pride in being a customer
V/r,
Chris Stout