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Send Kat to the 2015 Mongol Derby!

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Help me raise the funds needed to compete in the 2015 Mongol Derby! 

Holding the Guinness World Record for the longest horse race, the Mongol Derby recreates a 1000km (621miles) section of Genghis Khan's legendary postal route.
©The Adventurists

This year, 41 riders representing 13 countries will race across the Mongolian Steppe. I am honored to be one of the five Americans chosen for this year's race!


©The Adventurists/QUENTIN MOREAU 

The Derby is a monumental challenge, with riders taking seven to ten days to complete the course while changing horses every 25 miles.

Participants will ride between 25 and 28 semi-wild native Mongolian horses over the course of the race. Other than your saddle and the clothes on your back, only 11 pounds of supplemental gear are allowed during the race. Riders provide their own GPS, but rely on the generosity of the nomadic families who staff each horse station (or Urtuu, in Mongolian) for food, shelter, and water on the course. Riders have the option to camp out on the Steppe or stay overnight with a family in a Yurt.

©The Adventurists

Accepting a place in the 2015 Derby is a huge honor. I have been riding horses since the age of five, with stints in show jumping, drill team, IHSA, and my current love- polo. To ride (and finish!) the Derby is a goal that my teammate Michelle Tanaka and I have been working towards for several years. We have already agreed to split the weight of a roll of duct-tape; for no matter if it's broken bones or someone needs to be tied to their saddle, we will make it to the finish line!

©The Adventurists

The funds raised will go towards the entry fee for the Derby, transportation to Mongolia and back, as well as the months of intense physical training I am undertaking to prepare for this challenge.

Breakdown of costs:

Entry Fee- $14,000
Transportation- $2,500
Training, insurance, and gear for the Derby- $4,500

I am also raising money for two amazing charities- The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults and the official Mongol Derby charity Cool Earth. I will be donating a minimum of $2,000 to these wonderful organizations, and provide separate pages for each if you wish to make a tax-deductible contribution.

Donate to the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults

Donate to Cool Earth

Check out this awesome video to learn more about the Derby! 
Also, more information can be found on the official Mongol Derby website, and here is a National Geographic article about the race.

Thank you! 

-Kat
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Donations 

  • Ike Kwon
    • $50 
    • 9 yrs
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Organizer

Kat Whitney
Organizer
San Francisco, CA

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