A lot of new guests at Ancient Fire ask about the story. I usually setup it up with a bit of hype, maybe something like “absolutely, and it is a GOOD one!”, so forgive me for making that assumption as a bit of theater, but you do get to decide if it’s true when I’m done.

A bit more than 15 years ago I decided something was wrong and went to the doctor. Cancer. Yup! Cancer. Not really what I expected, but I had the thought that “at least this is going to be interesting” to keep me going. That thought doesn’t always work though. Sometimes it just sucks.

The initial treatment and testing went very well and I was able to happily say then, and since, that I’ve been healthy. I did undergo radiation for a short time, and plenty of scans and bloodwork (the interesting part) in the ensuing months and years. So for this outcome it really is a great story, and I’ve never lost sight of how amazing of an experience I did have. Going to doctor early counted. Life in the bonus round has been great so far.

Strides in 2003

While I was recovering my wife Margot asked me if I had considered doing something else other than work (with my off time) as I got healthy and back to what we could make of our lives. This is one of those questions people write stories about, a question that changed lives, the course of history and led to incredible experiences that otherwise might not have been.

I replied that I would like to learn how to make my own beer. Getting the green light to buy brewing, and winemaking, equipment I set to work and made two beers before the end of 2003. They were good, provided some good times (strong) and gave me motivation to learn how to do it better. What we didn’t know was how profound of a change in direction for our lives this would be.

One paragraph to capture what then happened up until Spring of 2016. Think I can do it?

Brewing, wine-making, cider-making, reading, fundraising, advocacy, meeting many new people, travelling, entering and winning in home-brew competitions, our fundraising team raising 1000’s of dollars, blogging, so much brewing/making, many miles walked around tracks at Relay, home-brew club, lots more medals, more travel to cool places, writing, teaching, speaking, all the cool people along the way, beer judge certification, mead judge certification, more writing, more speaking, more people and finally planning a new business. Whew! Caught up?

Relay For Life 2011

As a team, and we called ourselves Survivors Rule!, our family and friends raised over $120,000 for a number of different events from 2003 to 2013. We were consistently recognized for spirit and both our team and team member prowess for fundraising. It wasn’t only about the money, but it was always important for us to have that locked in too because cancer sucks and it takes a lot of money to do research to fight it; and your taxes don’t contribute much to the cause. Margot and I still raise money and walk in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event, the event we walked at in October 2003 where we realized we had an opportunity to take this story and give back with it. So let’s get to more of that.

As a new business we get a lot of inquiries to help support local organizations with a wide range of causes. Being a producer of alcohol puts a bulls-eye on your business. Who doesn’t like free samples while they check out festivals and events? We would be crass to overlook the impact and importance of all these activities and the programs they support. Most of us would easily recognize a great cause in any of them, and would gladly support them whenever we could. And we encourage people to do just that. Find a cause/event you feel passionate about and put a story behind your efforts when you go out and ask for others to support you. Go make a difference.

With all the inquiries coming in our challenge is that we have taken our own advice, picked several organizations we plan to support, and will never have enough time to respond to every independent inquiry we get. We don’t want to offend, but our team is too small to follow-up on all of them, we just can’t. We sincerely apologize in advance.

We have two programs we will be running this year, and both will provide opportunities for Ancient Fire community members to get involved in fundraising, but also being on the event team if they want. We are going to make an impact, and the in-person experience for both of these programs is going to be so much fun!

The first program is for the American Cancer Society event Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. We will use a series of promotional activities at the meadery to support our team and raise funds. Community members who join the team will also be raising money in their own networks and walking at the event in Manchester on October 21st with Margot and I. This event is held all over New Hampshire on the same day in October every year. It is amazingly powerful to think of all the people marching down streets together all over the state raising awareness and funds to fight cancer!

Jason with Brew Free Or Die (homebrew club) at the Food Bank in 2018

The second program will be to benefit the NH Food Bank, an organization Margot and I added to our charitable work a decade ago. Since then we have donated funds as well as have participated in activities at the Food Bank that further their mission. And once again we are going to help make this experience part of Ancient Fire. This program will kick off in November with a donation of funds we raise being made in December. We will also be pulling together a small group of community members to participate in Fresh Rescue at the Food Bank, an activity that redirects leftover frozen meat to shelters, meal programs and community kitchens. Margot and I have done this event in the past and when you find out how much food you helped pack up and how many meals it will be able to create it is hard not to be emotional about your impact.

We will be launching each of these programs in their own time with a lot more information. There will be multiple ways to support each event that should provide workable, comfortable options for everyone. As a community we are going to stand up, get involved and make a difference. We are also going to have fun while doing it, and that ladies and gentleman was the point to Ancient Fire in the first place.

So is it good story? You decide. But, we are sure the next chapter is going to be even better!

Cheers!

Jason