Here is a message I shared with the amazing people who donated to clean water on behalf of my LA Half-Marathon with Team World Vision. Maybe you are interested in hearing a part of my story:
Hi!
Thank you so much for your donation on my behalf for the LA Half-Marathon. I appreciate your support. But more importantly, your donation will help change lives in Uganda, in the World Vision Area Development Program called “Aber” which is about an hour south of the biggest city in the north, Gulu. This region was devastated by the insurgency or civil war that Joseph Kone and the Lord’s Resistance Army waged on the people there, kidnapping children to force into serving as soldiers. World Vision works in this area as a part of a 15-year commitment to develop sustainable resources such as schools and wells to help break the cycle of poverty.
After the LA Half-Marathon this year, I set my sights on the LA marathon. Why? Let me tell you a little of my story:
Last year was my first marathon EVER. And I ran it because I failed. In January of 2011, I didn’t make my fundraising goal for the LA Half-Marathon. And Andrea, our Team WorldVision rep at the time, pushed me with the challenge: If you run the LA marathon, you can continue fundraising and meet your goal. I accepted the challenge.
If you don’t remember the LA marathon last year, let me refresh your memory. It was monsoon weather. It rained – poured – the whole time. And my time was 5 hours and 44 minutes. I only had 7 weeks training time and I did a run-walk interval throughout the whole marathon that gave me a pace of about 12:44. At mile 16, I was repeating over and over in my head, “Never again. I’m only doing this because of the kids and families I met in Uganda.”
And yet, three days after the marathon, I was out for a three-mile run, dreaming of next year.
It’s here. And I’m running it this year. My training is on target. I’m amazed at what I’ve been able to do on recent runs. Last Sunday, I ran 10 miles in the morning with the Riverside Road Runners, after visiting and sharing about Team World Vision. Then in the afternoon, I climbed Mt. Rubidoux with Darlene and when we got to the base, I ran from Mt. Rubidoux to Arlington Sports Park at Victoria and Van Buren. Wow! I would have never dreamed it possible! Monday night I went out for a 13-mile training run. I’m amazed and thank God for bringing me on this journey. 
Now it’s time to get serious about fundraising. My goal is $50 per mile for the LA marathon. Will you help me reach my goal? And I don’t mean simply will you give. I mean will you pray for this LA marathon event? Will you share the mission with your friends and family? Will you forward this email to friends and share it on Facebook? I cannot do this alone. I need those who have supported me in the past to share this mission with me. And, if you are so motivated to donate once again….will you sponsor mile #4, #5, or #6 today?
I want to raise $50 per mile. Give all $50 for one mile, part of a mile sponsorship, or more! Every little bit counts! Help bring clean water to rural Uganda by sponsoring my LA marathon:http://support.worldvision.org/site/TR?px=1113784&fr_id=1550&pg=personal
If you’d like to learn more about World Vision’s work, you can visit http://www.worldvision.org.
Thank you again.