A New Chapter

Darkest night,I hate it.

Collins spent more than three decades working in environmental cleanup, tackling everything from landfills and pipeline leaks to industrial sites. “Just try not to get blown up,” he joked. It was serious work that demanded careful planning and constant attention—and it was work he loved, carrying him from middle age into his later years.

Now, six years into retirement, Collins has entered a new chapter of his life.

He and his wife, Lucy, live in western Wisconsin, just outside the Twin Cities, in a modest home beside a small lake. Their three sons are all grown. The house is quieter now, their schedules less packed, and the pace of life has begun to slow. There’s no longer a need to plan every hour of the day.

A Frightening Ordeal

They had always been tent campers. But raising children while working full-time meant their trips were few and far between, often rushed and squeezed into whatever time they could spare.

That night turned into a nightmare for Collins.

“I used to think I was invincible,” he said with a half-joking smile.

Collins had hiked up a mountain to camp in a cave. The morning sun had been glorious, bathing everything in golden light. He closed his eyes and soaked in the beauty of the moment, savoring the simple joy of being alive.

By midday, the weather had taken a turn. Dark clouds rolled in, and thunder and heavy rain swept across the mountain. The trail down had become steep, slippery, and treacherous, with rainwater washing mud across the path and making every step a struggle.

As he tried to piece together the details of that day, his expression grew serious.

Unsure of What Lies Ahead

As the rain grew heavier and the sky gradually darkened, unease began to spread through Collins. Thoughts of the warmth of home haunted him, leaving him pacing back and forth, restless and unable to settle.

At least I brought a power bank, he reassured himself.

Night finally fell, but the rain showed no sign of letting up. He switched on his power bank, hoping it might offer him a little peace of mind.

“It was so cold,” he recalled. “I could even hear animals out there.”

He had no idea what to do. He didn’t have the phone number of anyone nearby he could call for help. He tried calling the police, only to be met with a response that made him feel ridiculed.

But the worst was yet to come.

An hour later, his power bank ran out of battery.

A Ray of Hope

“I’m fighting this demon.”

“It felt like an eternity. I’d lost track of how much time had passed before the sun finally came out,” he recalled. “By then, my body had gone stiff.”

At that point in the story, Collins got up and shuffled into the house. A moment later, he returned with a product.

“This is what a real power bank looks like—a solar power bank. Solupup.”

“I’d seen the founder at a product launch,” Collins said. “He was young, full of energy, and passionate about what he was building. I bought one on the spot. I’ve been using it for six months, and it hasn’t let me down. Since then, I’ve become a loyal Solupup fan.”

Solupup — Bringing Sunshine to the Darkest Nights.

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