“She may look different and talk different, but she is like me. She is a girl. And together, we will rise up.” ~ Girl Up Girlafesto.
"Burden of Change”
Small Change. Such a Burden.
Doesn't it amaze you how light you feel when you take the change out of your pocket? Or feel that rush when you cash in your coin jar and suddenly “have” extra $40. Now imagine how you feel used your change to change a girl’s life. What if instead of spending it at a new shirt or Chipotle, you helped clothe a girl with a new uniform or get her a banana for a snack after a run? What if instead of feeding your caffeine addiction at Starbucks, you helped provide a mentor for an at-risk girl?
Over the next 26 (25, 24, 23...) weeks, I'll be training for the Chicago Marathon, raising money and awareness for a nonprofit called Girls in the Game, a Chicago non-profit working to empower girls to make healthier choices and develop the confidence and leadership skills they need to succeed on and off the field. Their mantra - Whole Girl: Body. Mind. Future.
So will you
give your CHANGE to CHANGE a girl's life?
We've all seen the pictures of starving children in the third world. We've all heard that stat that more than 1/3rds of the world is living on less than $2 a day. We've all had our heart strings pulled to push us towards touching that pocket book. But did you know that in 2011, 2.8 children in the United States are living on less than $2?
People living in poverty experience more health issues, violence, and crime. This is especially true for children growing up in poverty. Children in poverty experience higher rates of exposure to violence, trafficking, and homelessness. Girls are especially vulnerable to situations of abuse, turning to anyone or anything that makes them feel secure and loved. However, more often than not, it leads to further danger and damage in these vulnerable girls' lives.
This is my burden - help make a difference in children's lives.
Yesterday kicked off my official marathon training with Girls in the Game, a non-profit that provides sport programs for at-risk girls in urban environments. Sports have played a significant role in my life, teaching me everything from discipline to leadership to perseverance. But most of all, it's given me my best friends, proudest achievements, and greatest memories. Over the next 5 months, I'm going to be freeing myself of some of those little life burdens - a few pounds, some money for new shoes and Gatorade, and few less hours of TV or sleep. But nothing compared to what thousands of boys and girls go without each day.
Please consider donating to my charity team either by contributing your spare change or a general donation. If you can't make a donation at this point, help me reach my goal by sharing this page on Facebook and Twitter! Or, even better, send an e-mail to friends you think might be interested in contributing and include a link to my page!
Here is my fundraising page: http://www.active.com/donate/girlsinthegame2012/jmve
For more information, just leave a comment or ask through my blog contact.
No comments:
Post a Comment