World AIDS Day!

We're off and running!

Welcome to Day 1 of 365 of my Run 4 Red Ribbon project where I hope to raise much needed funds for AIDS orphans! It's almost symbolic that I should kick off my project on World AIDS Day! Our society is endeavoring to create a world that is AIDS-free by 2015, but another need will still exist! Today, there are approximately 25 million children in the world that have lost one or both parents to AIDS, the VAST majority of which are in sub-Saharan Africa! Yet this area is one that does not tend to receive goverment aid or assistance! This is a grave injustice, but you and I can help combat that! They money I am raising will go towards the educational and medical needs for these children so that they may grow up to live healthy lives!

Why I am running?

I am running 800 miles from today (December 1st, 2011) to November 30th, 2012 to raise $10,000 for Run 4 Red Ribbon and Peak 4 Poverty! I hope to be part of the Kilimanjaro expedition in December of 2012 so that I can have the chance to meet and work with the kids I've been raising money for as well as to conquer Kili herself! Conquering Africa's tallest peak will be the hardest thing I've ever done, but it will be nothing compared to an AIDS orphan's daily struggle to survive! I keep this in mind every time I take to my running (which I will do later tonight). I will be varying the number of miles I run each time as I coordinate the sessions with my strength training, core body, and upper body workouts! To help gauge my progress throughout the year, I plan to use my training to prepare for various races that will be taking place in the greater California Bay Area. My first race will be taking place on Saturday, March 17th of 2012, and if I raise $3,000 by that date, I will run with a FULL BEARD on! (I'm taking that marketing technique from a fellow R4RR runner, Jenna)!!!

So please spread the word, and take time to make a small gift to my campaign! Click the "chip in" button to the right of my blog and donate whatever you can! No gift is too small!

Thank you, and God Bless!

Katherine