As some of you already know Allison and I are training to run in our first marathon on Whidbey Island on April 13. Many people have been asking us why we want to do this to ourselves and thus far our only real answer has been for health (although our knees may argue with this logic) and a physical challenge we've both wanted to attempt for some time now. Then I came across a friend of mine who turned me onto a good idea that I'm going to steal in hopes that we might do more than stroke our physical egos this April.
What we're asking of you is to help us use this run to benefit some people in desperate situations by pledging to donate a certain chunk of change for each mile we run in April (Note: marathons are 26.2 miles). All of the money will go directly to the organization Doctors Without Borders. This is an organization of committed doctors worldwide providing vaccinations, check-ups, medical care and community support in war-torn areas and poverty-ridden parts of the world where people are dying of very curable illnesses that we haven't experienced in western society for a long time. Many of these places don't get reported about in the news and don't get the yearly runs cross-country to fund research. What they are dying from is not something waiting on a medical breakthrough, they just need willing people, money, and resources--all of which we have plenty of in our culture. If you'd like to read more on what this organization is doing you can go to www.doctorswithoutborders.org
If this sounds like something you'd like to be a part of please click on the link below and contribute directly to DWB to help us reach our goal before April 13. A big thanks to all of those who have already contributed! It has been overwhelming how fast and how generously our friends and family have responded to this cause. Please pass the word.
Love,
Jeff and Allison
