Why Child Protection

The day after a very successful Patriot Half Marathon in Rockwall, my legs are very sore.  But, my heart aches even more.

We recently completed our first Team World Vision NYC Marathon team call.  This call was to allow all of the runners to introduce themselves and learn more about World Vision's Child Protection project.  Child Protection is a five-year initiative to help children who are in the most vulnerable situations.  The nature of the call, and the need for help for this children is enough to break your heart - and it did mine.

I am running with Team World Vision to raise money to help fund all of the incredible work that they are doing helping these children.  The project is focused on three primary areas: Prevention, Protection, and Restoration.

The project aims to help children from sex trafficking and other predatory labor practices, from early and forced marriage, from warfare and child soldiering, from female genital mutilation, from abuse stemming from a disability, from the scourge of gang violence and includes a special project to protect them from child sacrifice.  Just typing the list conjures up images of unspeakable evil in this world, and through your help we can help the more than two and a half million children who are at risk.

I will continue to provide more information about this initiative, my fund raising and my training, but would you please make a generous donation to help fund this most worthwhile cause?  Don't wait for the marathon in November.  Make one today.

*** Click here to make a donation and save a child today ***

Thanks for your support,

Scott
 

Child Protection

This coming week begins a busy period for this year's fundraising for Child Protection with World Vision.

On Monday, I will run my second half marathon of the year.  I will be running the hilly Rockwall Patriot Half.  I'm less concerned with my time, and more concerned with what I've been warned as a very hilly course.

On Tuesday night, we have our first New York Marathon conference call with the World Vision leadership team and fellow runners from all over the country to get more details about the Child Protection initiative for which we are fund-raising.

And, I continue to train and diet.  There are only 23 weeks remaining until the NYC Marathon, and I have a long way to go.

While I work at getting ready for the biggest challenge of my life, won't you please consider a generous donation to the cause to help protect children from exploitation, abuse, and despair?

Click here to visit my fund raising page and make a difference in children's lives.

Click here to view my four minute video on how I got involved in World Vision.  When I started my selfish goal was to change me, but I ended up changing in ways I never imagined...

And, as always, thank you for your support.

Scott

A Journey Of Change

My journey with World Vision has been a journey of change. Not just a physical change, but one in which has seen a huge heart change.

I started because I needed a goal. Running my first 13.1 two years ago was that goal. I was going to train and prepare for the modest goal that I set: To complete a 13.1 half marathon.

What happened during that process is that I actually started to care...care for the people that we were helping, care for the people that supported me, and ultimately, care for my place in God's Kingdom. I fell in love with our sponsored children in Katito, Kenya during my training - as I knew that what I was doing was going to directly impact their lives.

Because of my fundraising (and your generous support), I was invited to go on a 'Vision Trip' to Kenya. I was going to see the good work that was (and is) going on there. I was going to take part in the water project commissioning and celebration, I was going to see exactly what the money that I was raising was going to. I was going to see how the people of the community were benefiting by my running.

I saw all of that and more. But what I really saw was hope, love and faith. And, seeing this changed me more than I could have ever imagined. I met our four sponsored children, I met a family in dire need and decided to sponsor one of their children, too. I met the incredible people of World Vision Kenya who are the hands, feet and heart of God there. I met and fell in love with all of them.

So, when I came back, I knew I had more to do. I signed up to run three half marathons, and ending up running four. Again, through the incredible generousity of my family, friends, and colleagues, I raised a nice amount of money for clean water in Katito. This result led to another amazing opportunity.

I've been invited to run the New York City Marathon in November. Given that I received this invite right near the terrible incident in Boston, this invite means even more to me. To return to my birthplace and run in a full marathon is an absolutely wonderful opportunity. To be able to celebrate this with friends and family in NYC is so awesome.

So, this year, I'll be training hard to be able to complete 26.2 miles. My goal is to finish. I'd like to think I can do it in about six hours, but just finishing right now seems to be a daunting task. I know how I feel after 13.1 and can't imagine doing another 13.1 right afterwards. But, I'm going to give it my all.

The children that we help, as we are running for World Vision's Child Protection Initiative, are worth it. And, I've seen the impact that World Vision's efforts have on an individual, on a family and on a community. Your money could not go to a more worthwhile cause.

Please consider a generous donation to this effort. Consider more than one. Consider a sacrificial gift to support this run. My goal is $5,000, but I would like to raise much much more. Remember, a full marathon is the most grueling thing I can think of right now. Support my training efforts with a donation, and share my page with all of your friends...

...together, we can change the world.

*****Click here to visit my fundraising page and make a donation*****

And, as always, thank you for your support.

Much love,

Scott