“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” ―Winston S. Churchill
5 years ago I decided to embark on a running journey. Starting with a 5k, then building to a 10k, I wanted to set my sights higher to the half marathon. A new mom, struggling with post-partum depression, running became a way for me to clear my mind, find strength in my body, and to feel pride in what I was achieving. It wasn't just about time out of the house, for myself, it was the fact that I was achieving goals that I set out for myself. I fell absolutely in love with the sport and haven't stopped running since.
When I decided to embark on my first half marathon, 13.1 mile race, I thought about what would motivate me to keep going, even in the face of struggle. I needed something to drive me to not give up, I needed my training to serve a greater purpose. I decided to dedicate my training & miles to fundraising for a non-profit organization. The first year, I raised money for children born with club-foot. Year 2, I raised money for birthday presents for kids in foster care. This will be my 3rd time raising money for an organization as I head into my 3rd marathon.
This year I'll be running the Buffalo Marathon on May 26th and raising money for Girls On The Run, Rochester. I'm setting my sights even higher on a fundraising goal, hoping that over the course of the next 17 weeks, I can raise $2000! From their site:
" We believe that EVERY GIRL is inherently FULL OF POWER and POTENTIAL. By knowing they are the leaders of their lives, these are the girls who WILL CHANGE THE WORLD. "
Empowering our female youth at a young age, helping them understand that their options are endless and teaching them that they can do hard things is extremely important to me. As a mom of two young girls age 6 & 3, organizations like Girls On The Run run near to my heart. This organization has hundreds of local chapters throughout the country including here in Rochester NY which is the chapter this campaign will be supporting. They provide camps for girls, training sessions to get them to complete a 5k race, and shoe campagins so that no girls go without the proper footwear to join the program. Through their mission, they are giving girls that feeling of confidence when you cross the finish line, knowing that you put in the hard work and effort, and can relish in your accomplishments.
Please consider joining me in supporting such an amazing cause as I chip away the training miles to complete my 3rd Marathon!
