A Barrie couple is taking the idea of “mind over matter” to a whole new level.
Brady and Kristy McDonald, who own and operate BK Real Estate Investing, recently launched a social media campaign and are committing to personally donating $1 per new follower to Operation Underground Railroad, a U.S.-based non-profit organization dedicated to stopping sex trafficking, with the goal of personally donating $100,000 by Oct. 18.
In addition to that, Brady McDonald is set to participate in a 100-mile ultra-marathon on Oct. 18, and has set himself a goal of raising $1,000 per mile for charity — including Easter Seals of Ontario, which helps children with physical disabilities.
The couple has launched their Zero to 100 campaign, an idea based on their own personal mindset and life philosophy, he explained, adding it’s about taking care of yourself mentally and physically and then being in the best position possible to be able to help others.
“I didn’t really know what I was going to call this thing, but in a meeting with one of my first first business coaches … he said, ‘dude you’re a zero to 100. Everything you do, you’re all in.’ And (I knew) that’s what it was going to be called. That’s what has gotten me all the success I have ever had, was that level of action. If I am going to do it, I am going to play to win," McDonald said.
As parents of two daughters, the decision to support Operation Underground Railroad and Easter Seals was an easy one.
“We were down living in (Florida) and I’d never had this fear before, but there were like three instances in the month prior to us choosing this charity and I just envisioned walking around the corner to the trampoline … and my kids being gone," he said. "Or another time, they were out on the driveway in their little car. (We) both went inside … and when we came out they were gone and I was panicking.
"It was that heart-wrenching feeling that they were gone,” McDonald recalled, adding they wanted to do something that would create an impact in both the United States and Canada.
“Child trafficking is a worldwide issue. It’s everywhere … but nobody talks about it because it’s taboo. It’s hard to talk about and it’s hard to hear, but that means it’s a fight," he added. "It’s not going to be easy, but the Zero to 100 mindset is that we will do the hard things, because that’s where growth happens.”
As a family, they has been connected ti Easter Seals for quite some time, said McDonald, noting the money really impacts the lives of the kids it supports.
"We feel kids with physical disabilities deserve to be kids, too. Easter Seals on Canada helps give these kids and their parents their necessary mobility equipment, special cleaning and toiletry devices and sends the kids to summer camp where they can simply be normal, have fun and thrive," he said.
The couple is hoping to gain as many followers as possible on Facebook and Instagram to help get their message out as quickly as possible.
“Social media can go really far, really fast, so by following the page we will be donating $1 on their behalf, but if they can share it with their friends and share the message then obviously that will help a lot,” McDonald said.
