This holiday season I want to spend my time doing something that I am proud of. Something that betters myself and the lives around me. And something that gives back to the sport that has given me so much.
When the opportunity to work with Kayla Nolan (Executive Director) at the Girls Gotta Run Foundation in Ethiopia came up, I had to say yes! Well, I basically met with her for coffee, made her tell me all about the trip, and insisted she bring me on to her team because… a chance to renew the international mojo of the #BrasForGirls program? Yes. A chance to run the first ever 100-mile ultra-relay (all female organized!) in Bekoji, Ethiopia? Yes. A chance to explore Ethiopia’s food, people, culture, run community? Yes. A chance to help photograph, document, and spread the word on all that GGRF does? YES. I am in.
Okay, so GGRF. They’re the only non-profit organization in Ethiopia using the national sport of running as an innovative approach to creating safe spaces, preventing early marriage and are currently expanding access to secondary school. GGRF has been investing in girls and their families to creative a long-term path for self-reliant and financial resiliency in Ethiopia since 2006.
Okay, so this relay. It takes place Jan 7-11 and will feature girls from the GGRF Program in Bekoji and some incredible athletes from around the world who will run together from the peaks of the Bale Mountains through the agricultural heartland of the Oromia Region and to the iconic running town of Bekoji. I’ve teamed up with #BrasForGirls (who have donated bras for every girl) to help bring breast education and some O #runlove to this relay party. This will be the first time the girls have conquered such a distance... together. Wow. Girls + sports = a beautiful world.
Spending time with my people, planning, raising money, running 100 miles with GGRF in Ethiopia - this is how I will spend my holiday season. I appreciate anything you can do to help me get there and thank you thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Head up, holiday wings out.
Jess
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TOTAL COST: I am raising $3,000
$1200 5-Day Trip Participation
$1600 Travel
