SEO:

Trish Dunn values relationships on Survivor

When Trish Dunn competed on TV Show Survivor: Pearl Islands in 2003, she came
bearing only the clothes on her back, as the games rules mandated. Despite this adversity,
Trish realized people need each other more than food or material items.
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Trish Dunn survives on relationships with tribe members

Survivor contestant values people over material items
By: Megan Landau

A breeze chilled the air as the sun disappeared below the horizon of the Gulf of

Panama. Trish Dunn shivered. Her stomach growled. Her once empowered attitude faded
into feelings of vulnerability when she realized she possessed nothing except the damp,
tattered clothes on her back.
Trish sat among seven strangers, only bonded by their membership in the Drake
tribe of Survivor: Pearl Islands. As she surveyed her surroundings and wondered how
she would survive, Trish thought to herself, Wait a minute, Ive got to start figuring these
people out.

Ten years after Survivor: Pearl Islands, Trish feels the lessons she learned while

competing remain woven into her personality. The contestants had almost no food for
many weeks and wore rags by the end of the experience. However, they did not care about
material products. Instead, they found the competition and camaraderie they shared were
of upmost importance. Competing on Survivor: Pearl Islands helped Trish Dunn realize
her relationships with people prevail over her possession of material commodities.

Third times a charm

The Dunns gathered around their TV to watch the premier of Survivor in May
2000. Trish was intrigued. As a sales representative and marathon runner, she thought she
possessed the strength, perseverance and interpersonal skills to be a successful castaway.

Enamored by the concept of the first reality show, Trish applied for the third season

of Survivor. The casting team invited her to New York for an in-person interview, a round
only 0.27 percent of applicants reach. Unfortunately, her tryout did not continue past this
round. She applied the following year, but again did not prevail through New York.

For Trish, the third time is always the charm. Before departing on a 20-mile training

run for the 2003 Boston Marathon, Trish sat amid snowfall on her front porch and
recorded a new application video. Trish finally
succeeded in New York and was one of 300
applicantsjust 0.1 percentto be invited to the
18-day tryout round in Los Angeles.

In LA, youre in a hotel room and theres

nothingno TV or anything to do for hour after

hour after hour, Trish recalls. I guess they figure
if you cant handle that, you cant handle being on
an island!
After the final tryout round, the casting
Trish knows her likability and interpersonal
skills helped her score a position on Survivor:
Pearl Islands.
Photo courtesy of Entertainment Weekly

team called Trish to reveal her position as one of

the 18 castaways on Survivor: Pearl Islands.


My mom was really excited when she was chosen, but we had to be really hush
hush about it, explained Trishs daughter, Reilly. We couldnt tell anyone unless theyd
signed a confidentiality agreement.
All aboard
In June 2003, the contestants gathered on a ship in the Gulf of Panama to take
promotional photos for the season. Much to their surprise upon arrival on the ship, they
learned the game had begun. Unlike previous seasons, the contestants were required to
leave all belongings on the ship.

The castaways dove into the Gulf and swam to their respective islands, one for each

tribe. While this process tarnished the contestants clothes, it reinforced why they were
there: to play a game and win $1 million.

As the sun set and the 100-degree air turned

cold, the Drake tribe had to find firewood and

create a sleeping arrangement. Trish looked at the
strangers around her and came to a realization that
set the tone for the rest of the game: Ive got to
start figuring these people out. Forget the $1

Ive got to start
figuring these people
out. Forget the million
dollar prize, Im not
going to get past this
night without them.
-Trish Dunn

million prize, Im not going to get past this night

without them.
Leveraging a lifeline

At 42, Trish was the oldest member of the Drake tribe. While her age seemingly put

her at a disadvantage, her warm and friendly disposition awarded her the respect and

friendship of many tribe members. She was meticulous and humble about publicizing her
athletic ability, as to avoid being a threat once the tribes merged.

Adversity grew when a fellow player, Burton Roberts, targeted Trish as the oldest

and weakest tribe member. Trish knew in order to withstand tribal counsel, she would
have to create strong alliances with two or three players.

Although she withheld details of the 24 marathons in her record, Trish revealed

aspects of her athletic ability to Jon Dalton, her first alliance. In her fight to withstand tribal
counsel, Trish expanded her circle of trust to three tribe members.

You start to realize that when you pick two or three people to trust, they become

your everything, Trish explained. You realize that you need the other people to help you
succeed.
From island to mainland
Trishs modesty backfired, as she became the 13th castaway voted off the island. She
retained strong self-esteem despite her short tenure on the show.
At a mere 89 pounds, the castaway was a new woman when she returned home. For
a year, she deserted her nice clothes and accessoriesshe did not need them to be happy.

When you have an experience like Survivor,

you realize material things arent important,

explained Trish.

To this day, Trish remembers how crucial it

was to build relationships with her tribe members on

the first night of Survivor. She now lives with an
attitude of openness and vulnerability.

I need to be warm, I
need to be friendly, I
need to open up to other
people and have them
open up to me. Thats
how you get by in life.
Thats what life is about.
-Trish Dunn

After Survivor, I realized a life lesson thats really important. I need to be warm, I

need to be friendly, I need to open up to other people and have them open up to me. Thats
how you get by in life. Thats what life is about.
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(Supplementary Sidebar story)

SEO: Trish Dunn runs South African ultra-marathon

Ten years after appearing on Survivor: Pearl Islands, Trish Dunn runs her 49th marathon
on the Grassroot Soccer team at South Africas Two Oceans ultra-marathon.
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Survivor contestant runs ultra-marathon in South Africa

Trish Dunn educates, inspires, motivates with Grassroot Soccer

When Trish Dunn earned a position as a castaway on Survivor: Pearl Islands in
2003, she felt empowered and unstoppable. This sentiment revisited her 10 years later as
she ran along the Indian and Atlantic Oceans during her 49th marathon.

The emotional and physical determination Trish developed on Survivor motivated

her to complete South Africas Two Oceans ultra-marathon in March. The team she ran with
gave her the opportunity to donate money and time to the organization Grassroot Soccer.
Many people consider Two Oceans the worlds most beautiful race, due to its
breathtaking scenery, ocean views and mountain backdrop. Despite its beauty, the races
35 miles are grueling. In one segment, runners climb the edge of a mountain for 10
continuous miles.

The race itself was much harder than I thought it would be, admitted Trish. When

you reach the finish line, youre dead. You cant believe how hard it was.

For the kids

Though the race was grueling, it allowed 10 runners to raise funds for the
organization Grassroot Soccer. The organization uses the power of soccer to educate,
inspire and mobilize African communities to stop the spread of HIV. Through their
partnership with public schools, Grassroot Soccer increases education focused on clean
water and health.
Ethan Zohn co-founded Grassroot Soccer after winning Survivor: Africa in 2002.
When he contacted Trish about running on the Grassroot Soccer ultra-marathon team, she
jumped at the opportunity.
Trish raised more than $5,000 on
her online fundraising page before the
marathon. After the race, she helped
Grassroot Soccer establish soccer
programs in impoverished communities
throughout Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Since the ultra-marathon, Trish has
supported Grassroot Soccer coaches in

Trish sports her Survivor hat as two zebras wander

into her camp in Zimbabwe. The Grassroot Soccer team
worked with schools in Zimbabwe to increase education
regarding HIV.
Photo courtesy of Trish Dunn

finding permanent jobs to ensure they do not fall back into poverty.
For more information, visit the Grassroot Soccer website at grassrootsoccer.com.
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