Evolv shoes for a great cause.

Shoe Give Away

Sometimes doing the right thing looks really cool. You know what I mean, like the guy who jumped on the subway tracks in New York City to save the kid who had fallen on the tracks. I mean, that’s cool! Other times the right thing is not as glamorous but just as cool. Sometimes it takes one company who sees a need and decides to step up and do the right thing.

A little while back EZ Harrison got a hold of me and asked if I knew of any guys who had one leg like I did and might be in need of a shoe. It seems that when Evolv moves from a style or has demo models, they had a wealth of one sided shoes on hand and didn’t want to just add to the landfill. Being on the Evolv Team has been such a great experience for me, and I thought if I could spread some of that love around to some folks who needed some help, well, that would be the right thing to do.

I put the word out and sure enough, the responses came in.

And so did the shoes?!

Donny loaded me up with two huge boxes of one sided beauties. My wife Cyn and I went through the shoes one by one, pairing when we could, and separating the sizes out. Once we got that done, I started the mailing and connecting with the guys and gals who could use the shoes. My friend Pablo who lost his leg in a climbing accident and has not been able to work since, flipped out at the idea Evolv was going to give him shoes. He’s returned to climbing, it’s a huge part of who he is and I think we can all understand that, but to see his thanks really blew me away. He understands the cost of these shoes, and to have a company want to help him spoke volumes. Then there is Todd from Decatur IL who is not a climber, never heard of Evolv, but was shocked we wanted to send him shoes! He has Cerebral Palsy and wears out the fronts of his shoes from the shakes. Two pairs are in the mail to him tomorrow to help him on his way.

The other huge box of singles will be re-boxed and sent to my friend Gary Falleson. Gary runs an organization of climbers who do amazing service projects around the world when they go on climbing trips. He’s built schools and wells in almost every third world country out there, and recently was very active in Haiti. Before the huge earthquake there, they had built a school in a little village where they met a boy named Gilbert. Gilbert had lost his leg after falling off a roof, and through some generous donors, been flown here so I could help him build a leg to walk on with the team who makes my legs. He can only use his leg part time and has to crutch around the village on a pair of wooden crutches and a pair of manky flip flops.

 That is till now.

 In January, Gary will take a box of shoes over for us and deliver them not only to Gilbert, but to any other kids and adults who are in need after the quake. It seems there are tons of people who lost limbs after the quake and are still in dire need.

All in all, the right thing is pretty cool no matter what shape it comes in. So from our dingy garage to the hills of Haiti and the front range of Colorado, Evolv stepped up and did the right thing in a big way. Thanks!

Paublo digging his kicks.

The Man, the myth, Craig Demartino helping others.

Story written by Crag Demartino, Evolv athlete CO.