I'm heading to Calgary and back and I need your help...
Why I'm Going to Calgary
Earlier this year, my cousin Kim was diagnosed with stage-four cancer. After a number of traditional and alternative treatments, she is now undergoing chemotherapy and is a fighter. I'm going to go spend some time with her and surprise her with a high-end portrait session.
There are two simple reasons I am going to Calgary:
- To see my wonderful cousin Kim.
- To pick up a car that she and her husband have gifted to me.
TOP SECRET. While in Calgary, I will be surprising my cousin Kim with a high-end professional couture portrait photo shoot. I am already collaborating with makeup artists and local photographers to help with the shoot. I want to provide Kim with an experience for her to feel like a queen for the day, while providing amazing images for our families to cherish. I am hoping Kim does not find out about this campaign, as it could ruin the surprise of this photo shoot.
Kim and her husband Paul are also giving me a car. My Hyundai Accent died last summer and for the past year, I've been borrowing a Honda CR-V from my amazing, life-long friend Mary. Kim is flying my to Calgary on points but I have to get myself and the car back to Hamilton. Unfortunately, I just cannot afford to get back on my own right now, so I figured I could turn the trip into an adventure that you can also benefit from.
Who Am I & Why Do I Need Help?
My name is Kevin Patrick Robbins. People call me KPR. I am a Toronto-area photographer, living in Hamilton. I have been shooting for more than 25 years, but have only recently began to pursue it as a profession.
My cousin Kim has been the biggest inspiration on my life. When I was a kid, my family used to go watch her perform improv when she was attending the University of Waterloo. Years later I remembered how much fun that looked and took my first improv class, which eventually led to me running an improv comedy company and school in Toronto for 12 years, the Impatient Theatre Co.
This July, due to increasing costs, a bad lease, and years of exhaustion, I had to shut down the comedy company. In shutting down the company, I put myself out of a job, despite not having taken an income in the previous nine months. Since then, I have put my focus on developing my photography business. And while the photography is great, the business is slow.
However, instead of complaining about it, I'm being proactive about it. This trip can help bring beauty to so many lives, mine and yours.
What's In It For You?
I've put together some AMAZING perks for your contributions. Some of the cooler than cool items include:
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Social Media shout out on my Facebook and Twitter feeds (000s of followers)
- postcard featuring one of my landscape images, upon return
- personalized, handwritten postcard from the road
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portrait/headshot session (with me), including two, high-res finished images
- 16" x 20" signed, pro-quality print from your pick of the images
- 16" x 20" framed pro-quality print from your pick of the images (GHTA only)
-
24" x 36" high-quality, signed giclée print, ready to mount and frame
-
Seldex portfolio box with a dozen matted, ready-to-frame pro prints of your choice
- personalized, signed and endorsed, limited-edition photo book of my best images from the trip
FRIENDS & FAMILY can substitute images of the trip with images from Kim's couture portrait session, provided the portrait session is able to take place.
The Road Trip
I will be travelling with my dog and taking advantage of Canada's wonderful and diverse landscape to capture images of its land and people, from Lake Louise to Hamilton, Ontario. On this mini-epic, 4400-km journey, I will be visiting a number of Canada's parks to photograph the magnificent landscape (and avoid having my dog get eaten by bears). Since this will be during the changing of the leaves season, the colours are expected to be gorgeous!
Some planned stops include:
Itinerary subject to change.
Where is the Money Going?
I have never driven through Canada, so on my drive back, I plan to stop at a number of parks and make some amazing photographs on my journey. I will be documenting my journey on my blog (www.kevinpatrickrobbins.com) and making a number of images available for people to purchase as finished prints and an image book of the trip.
GAS. FOOD. LODGING. The bulk of the money will be going to pay for gasoline (approx. $600), food (approx $400), and lodging (approx. $500) I need to get back from Calgary. These estimates include GST and HST in the various provinces.
VEHICLE MAINTENANCE: The vehicle will need an oil change and engine flush at both ends of the trip. Windshield fluid, jumper cables, etc., in case of emergencies. Approx. $150.
PARK ADMISSIONS: National and provincial parks have admission fees that I will have to pay in order to get to photograph some of the amazing parts of Canada's landscape. Approx. $250
TRAVELLING DOG EXPENSES. I'll be taking my dog Winston with me. So, I need to get him there by plane, buy food in Calgary for the trip home, and buy bags to clean up after him when he drops poop all over our beautiful country. Approx. $100.
PERK EXPENSES. Most of the perks of this campaign involve printing costs. Cost is variable, dependent on the number and types of perks.
If I surpass my fundraising goals, I will also use the money to setup an online shop where people can order prints of my images. donate a portion of the proceeds to Gilda's Club of Greater Toronto. Gilda's Club is a great organization that provides emotional and social support for people living with cancer.
Other Ways You Can Help
When and where you can, help causes and campaigns that support research to find a cure to cancer. My personal favourites are:
Please help spread the word about this campaign.
Thanks for reading. I appreciate any help you can provide.
Peace and love,
Kevin Patrick Robbins
Here are some landscape and nature images from my current collection: