Many of you know Lou Bank (@mostly_limbs): amazing human, rock climbing guide, mentor, photographer and one of the faces behind Flash Foxy. Lou has done so much to help build community in the outdoor world and support other humans in achieving all of their dreams, especially if it involves doing a good trick, like a flip, or climbing a mountain, or sharing face glitter. While Lou is many wonderful things, they're not super good at asking for help -- so we're doing it for them! After 2 years and 60,000(!!) miles, their beloved vehicle, Big Balthazar, recently got a terminal diagnosis from the mechanic: it is no longer drivable. Big Balthazar wasn't only the most glittery, stickered car in the lot -- it was also Lou's home. Since 2024, Lou has been living out of Big Balthazar in order to travel back and forth across the country climbing, guiding, and facilitating the outdoor education courses and Flash Foxy Climbing Festivals so many of us have enjoyed. Working in the outdoors is incredible in so many ways, but it is not a financially lucrative field. In addition to structural barriers, financial barriers mean that this field is mostly dominated by white cis het men. Lou is one of the few trans guides in this field and works diligently to break down barriers in the outdoors. This work is not possible without a car to call home. The first $10,000 dollars of this goal will help Lou afford a new home by serving as the down payment for a new vehicle. If we raise the additional $5,000, we can also support Lou in becoming an AMGA Rock Guide, an extremely expensive and cost-prohibitive process that would allow them to continue to thrive in their field and grow their capacity to introduce more people to the outdoors -- as well as gain additional work opportunities. Help us get Lou a new home so they can get back on the road and out on some rocks, where they belong!
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