Help for Bill Kerig: Ready to Fly

Bill Kerig from The Edge of Never here. I’m writing to ask for your help on a new endeavor: www.GetReadyToFlyFilm.com

A year ago, I showed The Edge of Never to people in small theaters from Seattle to Vermont. In Rockport, Massachusetts, a sold-out theater laughed, cried, and kept me answering questions for hours. In Madison, Wisconsin, a Dad told me that he was headed straight home to hug his son. The film inspired some to embrace their friends, others to go skiing with their moms — many to live just a little bit more. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

After the tour, I started looking for another story that could inspire me (and hopefully, you) I found it in the story in Lindsey Van, who set out to conquer the world, only to have it line up against her. I found it in the story of Peter Jerome who saved his daughter’s ski jumping team, taking on a multi-billion-dollar foe, armed with only a Non-Profits For Dummies paperback. I found it in the story of women’s ski jumping, the only Olympic discipline that allows men to compete but not women. And I found it in the eyes of my own young daughter who is not a ski jumper, but hopefully will never be denied the chance to pursue any of her dreams, merely because she’s a girl.

I figured that this story that spoke so loudly to me would be a slam-dunk with sponsors and investors, studios and broadcasters. Six months later the constant door slams have put a hundred exclamation points on just how little I know.

This is a story of underdog outsiders who risk everything to upset and change the arcane, outdated ways of an unthinking establishment. And yet I was asking the establishment to support the message – repeatedly. I may be dumb, but I’m dogged.

Now, I’m trying something riskier than anything I’ve ever done: I’m asking all my friends for a little help.

They call it crowd funding, a fancy term for a simple concept: community coming together to create and inspire change — grassroots giving gone high-tech.

With a little bit of your help, I promise to make the best, most inspiring film that I can. And if you give even one dollar, I will list your name in the credits.

What I’m asking is 4 minutes and 13 seconds of your time to watch the pitch reel here: www.GetReadyToFlyFilm.com.

If it speaks to you and you want to help, donate at the site. I will be forever grateful.

If it doesn’t move you, maybe you can send this email on to someone it might touch.

Thank you for your continued support,