It’s a time in one’s life that people often search for greater meaning and, sometimes, make crazy decisions.
When buddies Kyle Allesia, of Richmond, and Mike Deane, of Surrey, hit their 30th year in October and November respectively, they wanted to do something everyone would remember and help a good cause in the process.
For 404 days and nights — the number of days between Allesia’s 30th and Deane’s 31st birthdays and also the error code people might recognize from computers — the pair of 30-year-olds have made a pact to drink only water and raise funds for Water Aid Canada.
A list of “official rules” accompany the lads’ 404waternotfound challenge:
z No coffee, no pop, no juice, no alcohol;
z Cooking: When cooking, the use of any liquids is OK (ie. milk in Mac ‘n’ Cheese);
z Count Chocula Rule: Milk shall be allowed to be poured over cereal, however the excess milk at the end of the bowl shall NOT be consumed;
z Chunky rule: Soup is an acceptable liquid for consuming as long as there are solids in it. Tomato soup is strictly forbidden;
z Smoothie rule: Smoothies are allowed as long as every ingredient that went into it started as a solid. (ie. no milk, no juice, only water).
A penalty of $50 awaits any violation, policed vigilantly, according to Allesia, by their respective partners.
“I wanted to do something good for the world,” said Allesia, a grocery analyst for Overwaitee Foods, who lives on Moffat Road in City Centre.
“Almost one billion people around the world still don’t have access to clean water and we really should have sorted this out by now.
“We’re doing pretty good so far, but it is only six weeks or so in. It’s kind of an honour system, but people are keeping an eye on us anyway.”
The pair’s goal is to raise $50,000 over the 404 days by hosting events once a month until Deane’s 31st birthday on Nov. 11 next year.
They had a chili cook-off last week, bumping their total thus far to $1,500, and they’re working on their next event.
Allesia, who’s also a drummer in a band called RedFinn, said he didn’t notice any positive health effects until about four weeks into the challenge.
“All of a sudden, I’ve started to feel more alert, hydrated and energetic,” said Allesia.
“I’m not a coffee drinker and I don’t drink too much booze, it’s pop that I drink, about 10 or 12 cans a week.
“It was a bit difficult at a recent wedding. I didn’t really know anyone there and everyone was getting drunk. That was a little bit hard.”
If you would like to help Allesia and Deane, log onto 404water.org to donate.
