55: Bonnie McDonald on Giving Purpose to Tragedy

Backcountry Lifeline was founded in August 2015, following a crash on Stage 3 of the Big Mountain Enduro Series and Enduro World Series in Crested Butte, CO, in which 40-year old Will Olson died. Will was an expert rider favored to win the series, and to those who founded backcountry lifeline, he was a respected fellow rider, friend, and beloved fiancé. His death rocked the bike community, and support poured in from around the globe.   Today, his fiancé Bonnie McDonald joins the show to discuss loss and how to make some sense out of it with some purpose and drive.    Bonnie and the team at Backcountry Lifeline would like to help lead the way and shift the conversation on safety and medical support in the mountain biking community in general. There is no standard in mountain biking events and quite honestly, the mountain bike industry is behind others. It’s time to change that.   Be sure and stay to the end. Just as I was about to wrap up and say good bye, Bonnie shared some of the unintended beauty, collateral beauty as it’s known, in this tragedy. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful. I considered editing and bringing this piece of the conversation forward into the episode but it goes exactly where it is, a fitting end.    Let’s listen in gear up for what’s next.    Where to Find Bonnie: Raffle for the SWEET bike backcountrylifeline.com   Sponsors: Maxxis shimano Yeti   About Lisa Gerber: Lisa advises CEOs and senior level management on how to use the power of storytelling and effective communication to influence action and bring ideas to life.   She guides companies through the digital maze of constantly changing tools to build discovery, loyalty, and ultimately help them achieve their own big leaps.   When she is not in her office, she might be out skiing or trail running. This is where she does her best creative problem solving.   To learn more about booking Lisa for consulting, speaking or workshops, visit www.bigleapcreative.com.