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Running is more than a rhythm of pounding legs, running is a rhythm of a hopeful heart, a beat of both confidence and joy. Run for Congo Women was set up to spread such hope across oceans. “At the peak of fall foliage, the trails at Riverbend Park will be a picturesque setting for an inspiring and symbolic run for the women and children of the Congo. With more than 5.4 million people-mostly women and children-killed since the conflict began in 1998, the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been the deadliest on record since World War II. Women are routinely gang raped and tortured. Children are killed or die of starvation by the thousands every day. Run for Congo Women is a relief effort to help these women educate themselves, learn a trade, and feed their families.”
On November 6th, A good friend and I will be participating in a Run for Congo Women 12.9 mile trail run in Conover, NC. Each runner embarks on their own fundraising through sponsors and donors to raise money for the cause and band together as a symbol of the empowerment women in Congo are receiving from running themselves, long skirts, singing, and dancing, they run across the oceans at the same time we do! $27 sponsors one woman for one month. Since the race is about 12 miles, I would love to raise a month-per-mile, to sponsor a Congolese woman for one year, to sponsor even more than one would be an answered prayer! Whatever you can give, even your prayers for the rigid trail run (yikes!), overall success of the event, and the health of the runners and those we represent would be enough! This is a dream come true for me to share the joy across oceans through two things that bring such joy into my life: running and social justice, especially to the tune of an African drum. We run for justice alongside the women of Congo who are being empowered by our pounding legs on the pavement, as their legs learn pound and fight for their rights on the African mud. We, too, will hear the drums pound as we run, with the rhythm of a hopeful heart.
Here is the link to my donation site: Donate Now!!!
Wonderful Article: Click Here!
Posted on September 29, 2010
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