This is a live blog that we will be updating throughout #GiveToMarsDay. The updates will include new fundraising totals, winners announcements from our hourly drawings, and the challenges that our #PotatoChallenge crew are facing on Mars to gain water and survive for the 24-hours while we’re trying to save them by sending a rescue mission from Earth.
But to send that rescue mission we need to raise $100,000 for The Mars Generation! This is all for fun, to raise awareness of STEM & space, and provide much-needed funds for the work TMG wants to do. Support our crew by donating now, tweet them, and join them on our Facebook page to wish them well. And don’t forget to use the #PotatoChallenge and #GTMD15 hashtags. Every time you tweet using these hashtags you are automatically entered in our hourly prize drawings!
To reach a goal this big in 24 hours we need you to Give to Mars!
12:00 AM Update
That’s it, everyone! Our #PotatoChallenge participants have been rescued from Mars and are on their way back to Earth!
The Mars Generation cannot thank you enough for the incredible amount of support you’ve shown us in the past 24 hours. In addition to raising funds to help support the goals we’ve set for TMG, you’ve also helped us raise awareness about the importance of STEM and human space exploration. We hope you enjoyed participating in today’s event as much as we did. If you’d like to sign-up to be a part of future events, add your name to our email list!
11:00PM Update
Only one hour to go in the #PotatoChallenge!
Prize Winner: Lina @PlanetaryGoGo
Prize: Earth Liaison Limited Edition Patch
10:00PM Update
Prize Winner: Alice Higgs @ayhiggs
Prize: Space Adventures Kids Book by Andrew Rader
9:00PM Update
Prize Winner: Brennah @Brennah19
Prize: Autographed photo of Astronaut Abby
8:00PM Update
Are you ready for another Water Challenge? This one is going to not only earn you 6 ounces of water, but it’s going to be a lot of fun! In The Martian Mark Watney used rocks to spell out messages that NASA could read via their satellites. Spell “DONATE” using objects in your house and tweet us a pic! Don’t forget to use the #PotatoChallenge, #GivetoMarsDay, and #GTMD15 hashtags!
Prize Winner: Luke Barratt @astronaut_luke
Prize: Mars or Bust 2030 Patch
7:00PM Update
Prize Winner: James Cornthwaite @eatlikeamartian
Prize: Earth Liaison Limited Edition Patch
6:00PM Update
Prize Winner: Ruth Edick @RuthEdick
Prize: Space Adventures Kids Book by Andrew Rader
5:ooPM Update
Prize Winner: Vicky Houle @VickiCello22
Prize: The Mars Generation T-Shirt
4:ooPM Update
Prize Winner: Ruby Taylor @RubyMayLT
Prize: Autographed photo of Astronaut Abby
3:ooPM Update
Prize Winner: Corey Maize @StormixOfficial
Prize: Mars or Bust 2030 Patch
2:ooPM Update
Time for a new Challenge! And this one will make some of our #PotatoChallenge participants very happy because the reward is CAFFEINE! We all saw how great Mark Watney was at fixing things while on Mars. Some might even call him a Martian MacGyver. Now it’s time to test out the skills of our participants in the “Fix Anything” challenge. So get out your tools and cameras and send us pics of your best repair job. Be creative! It counts. But more importantly, have fun!
Prize Winner: David Erickson @derickson
Prize: Earth Liaison Limited Edition Patch
1:ooPM Update
Prize Winner: Lisa Izzo @LisaIz2
Prize: Space Adventures Kids Book by Andrew Rader
12:ooPM Update
It’s time for another Water Challenge! Do “The One Arm Watney” for 6 ounces of water. In The Martian, Mark Watney’s quick thinking saved his life when his space suit helmet was punctured in an accident. To seal the hole, he cut off the sleeve of his space suit, glued it over the hole in his helmet, then sealed the hole from the missing sleeve of his suit. As a result he was forced to keep one arm inside his spacesuit while he ran back to the safety of the Hab. To pay tribute to Watney’s ingenuity, #PotatoChallenge participants must keep one arm inside their shirt or tied to their waist for either one hour or while doing a task. The task could be anything– Taking the dog for a walk, grocery shopping, eating lunch at a restaurant. Make sure you tweet a picture of yourself doing #TheOneArmWatney. Extra credit will be given for the most creative one-arm activity.
Prize Winner: Jessie Tuscano @JessieTuscano
Prize: Autographed photo of Astronaut Abby
11:00AM Update
Prize Winner: Darren Franzen @DarrenTF
Prize: Earth Liaison Limited Edition Patch
10:00AM Update
Prize Winner: Will @BillyTheBrick
Prize: Space Adventures Kids Book by Andrew Rader
9:00AM Update
Prize Winner: Jayeeta Sarkar @Siza111
Prize: Autographed photo of Astronaut Abby
8:00AM Update
It’s boogy time! We are only $2900 away from breaking the $10K mark, and until we get there it’s time to party like it’s the 1970s with the Disco Challenge. Our #PotatoChallenge participants will have to listen to disco music- just like Mark Watney had to do during his time on Mars- until we reach our goal.
Prize Winner: Kristin Peterson @GrandCiel
Prize: The Mars Generation Launch Support T-Shirt
7:00AM Update
Prize Winner: Ben Sterling @BenDSterling
Prize: Mars or Bust 2030 Patch
6:00 AM Update
Water Challenge: For 6 ounces of water release your inner Emeril! Create the most artistic presentation of your next potato dish and share a pic of it with us. Creativity is encouraged and will score extra points with our judges!
Prize Winner: Susie @SusieMUC
Prize: The Mars Generation T-Shirt
5:00 AM Update
Prize Winner: Bettina Chavanne @PRHelo
Prize: Mars or Bust 2030 Patch
4:00 AM Update
Water Ration Earned for first $5,000 in donations
Water Challenge: For 6 ounces of water– Watney Engineering Challenge: Use whatever materials you have available and build a makeshift engineering project. The crazier the better. Once it is done tweet a photo of it and explain what it is supposed to be. Extra points for giving it a cool name!
Prize Winner: Mychele Boardman @GoddessMychele
Prize: Space Adventures Kids Book by Andrew Rader
Total Raised: $5,495
3:00 AM Update
Prize Winner: Farhana Pinki @Astro_Pinki
Prize: Space Adventures Book
2:00 AM Update
Water Challenge: For 6 ounces of water pick an event in The Martian to simulate and share a picture– Be safe!
Prize Winner: Mausonaut @Mausonaut
Prize: Autographed Astronaut Abby Photo
1:00 AM Update
Prize Winner: Andreas Ducker @DanimathDunker
Prize: Earth Liaison Limited Edition Patch
Total Raised: $3504.00
Only $96,496 to go!
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