100 Mile Protest
Donation protected
Hey there! My name is Mercedes, I am an endurance athlete based out of Washington DC. September 2020 I attempted to run my first 100 miler which was dedicated to raising awareness & donations to fight against the construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline and to support a local hiking group called Black Girls Hike RVA.
My goal with establishing this fundraiser is to inspire people to give back to protect the environment that provides them with so much. And to also look beyond environmental action and support minority communities in the outdoors, because without social justice there can be no environmental justice!
Because we all have a responsibility to take care of our earth and take care of each other.
if you would like to donate directly to these groups you can do so at these links -
Sierra Club Virginia Chapter: https://www.sierraclub.org/virginia/vapipelines
Black Girls Hike RVA: https://linktr.ee/Blackgirlshikerva
BACKSTORY:
When I discovered that Dominion Energy was planning to construct the Atlantic Coast Pipeline just 10 miles south of Shenandoah National Park and across the Appalachian Trail I felt a strong calling to stand up and fight against the pipeline. As a trail runner living in Wintergreen, VA, and Washington DC I fell in love with the trails and the environment that was my backyard. These ecologically diverse hills deserved to be preserved and the water that a majority of the population in the Virginia hills rely on needed to be kept clean and clear of threat.
So the inception of a 100 mile protest was born! Run 125 miles through Shenandoah National Park and to the location of the proposed pipeline crossing of the Appalachian trail in order to protest the ACP. One year later and it comes to happen that the ACP construction is discontinued thanks to a hard-fought battle put on by a grassroots effort! What a huge win for the community and the environment!
THE UPDATED PLAN:
I wanted to continue to run this project as a celebration run as well as a protest run. Celebrating the success of the community for their big win in the fight against the ACP and redirecting my protest energy to the Mountain Valley Pipeline - a similar pipeline that is slated to run from West Virginia through Southern Virginia where it will pass through the Jefferson National Forest which is directly south of Shenandoah National Park.
learn more about the pipeline here:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sierraclub.org/articles/2019/10/going-strong-continued-fight-stop-mountain-valley-pipeline%3famp
I was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States to expand my environmentalism to include social justice. I want to contribute to the creation of equal opportunity for all humans to enjoy and feel welcome in the outdoors. Striving for intersectional environmentalism! This is how the donation idea for Black Girls Hike RVA came about. This group is newly established and would greatly value any assistance that can be provided to support their mission of connecting and empowering black women to get out on the trails in Virginia!
learn more about Black Girls Hike RVA here: https://linktr.ee/Blackgirlshikerva
Instagram: @blackgirlshike_rva
On September 14th, 2020 I will attempt to run 125 miles along the Appalachian Trail traveling north to south beginning at Route 522 in Front Royal, VA, and ending where Route 664 and Blue Ridge Parkway intersect near Wintergreen, VA. For every mile I complete I will be donating $2.00 total:
-$1.00 will be donated to the Virginia Sierra Club Chapter who is responsible for organizing the fight against the ACP and is currently fighting against the MVP
-$1.00 will be donated to Black Girls Hike RVA which is a small group that supports black women connecting and hiking on the trails of Virginia
THE RUN & REFLECTION:
On September 14th I went out to attempt the 125 miles along the Appalachian Trail beginning in Front Royal, VA. I started at 9:30 am and was able to accomplish 55 continuous miles until my body crumbled and I was forced to stop at 3:30 am on September 15th. Leading up to the effort I had struggled with 1.5 months of overtraining syndrome and had accomplished very little running. Because of my status leading up to the run I knew when I started that my performance was going to be a gamble. And honestly, that was scary. But I decided to give it my best effort anyway. I was (and still am) so grateful that I was able to even attempt the run, that getting as far as a little under halfway felt like an accomplishment.
But I would say the greatest accomplishment of all was the generation of support for fighting against the Mountain Valley Pipeline and uplift Black Girls Hike RVA. I am beyond proud of everyone who participated and contributed to this project.
MY DONATION:
I have created the goal amount to match the amount that I have donated upon completion of the 100 mile protest project which is $250. Although I did not complete the entire 125 miles I still feel compelled to donate the full amount. As of 9/22/2020 $615 (gofundme donations) + $250 (my donation) = $865 has been sent to Virginia Sierra Club and Black Girls Hike RVA ($432.50 per group) !!!
Thank you to all of you who have supported this project. You have shown me that people still care about intentions and substance. You have made a difference in human's lives, pushed towards a more inclusive outdoors, and stood up to protect your Earth. I am so proud of all of us!
My goal with establishing this fundraiser is to inspire people to give back to protect the environment that provides them with so much. And to also look beyond environmental action and support minority communities in the outdoors, because without social justice there can be no environmental justice!
Because we all have a responsibility to take care of our earth and take care of each other.
if you would like to donate directly to these groups you can do so at these links -
Sierra Club Virginia Chapter: https://www.sierraclub.org/virginia/vapipelines
Black Girls Hike RVA: https://linktr.ee/Blackgirlshikerva
BACKSTORY:
When I discovered that Dominion Energy was planning to construct the Atlantic Coast Pipeline just 10 miles south of Shenandoah National Park and across the Appalachian Trail I felt a strong calling to stand up and fight against the pipeline. As a trail runner living in Wintergreen, VA, and Washington DC I fell in love with the trails and the environment that was my backyard. These ecologically diverse hills deserved to be preserved and the water that a majority of the population in the Virginia hills rely on needed to be kept clean and clear of threat.
So the inception of a 100 mile protest was born! Run 125 miles through Shenandoah National Park and to the location of the proposed pipeline crossing of the Appalachian trail in order to protest the ACP. One year later and it comes to happen that the ACP construction is discontinued thanks to a hard-fought battle put on by a grassroots effort! What a huge win for the community and the environment!
THE UPDATED PLAN:
I wanted to continue to run this project as a celebration run as well as a protest run. Celebrating the success of the community for their big win in the fight against the ACP and redirecting my protest energy to the Mountain Valley Pipeline - a similar pipeline that is slated to run from West Virginia through Southern Virginia where it will pass through the Jefferson National Forest which is directly south of Shenandoah National Park.
learn more about the pipeline here:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sierraclub.org/articles/2019/10/going-strong-continued-fight-stop-mountain-valley-pipeline%3famp
I was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States to expand my environmentalism to include social justice. I want to contribute to the creation of equal opportunity for all humans to enjoy and feel welcome in the outdoors. Striving for intersectional environmentalism! This is how the donation idea for Black Girls Hike RVA came about. This group is newly established and would greatly value any assistance that can be provided to support their mission of connecting and empowering black women to get out on the trails in Virginia!
learn more about Black Girls Hike RVA here: https://linktr.ee/Blackgirlshikerva
Instagram: @blackgirlshike_rva
On September 14th, 2020 I will attempt to run 125 miles along the Appalachian Trail traveling north to south beginning at Route 522 in Front Royal, VA, and ending where Route 664 and Blue Ridge Parkway intersect near Wintergreen, VA. For every mile I complete I will be donating $2.00 total:
-$1.00 will be donated to the Virginia Sierra Club Chapter who is responsible for organizing the fight against the ACP and is currently fighting against the MVP
-$1.00 will be donated to Black Girls Hike RVA which is a small group that supports black women connecting and hiking on the trails of Virginia
THE RUN & REFLECTION:
On September 14th I went out to attempt the 125 miles along the Appalachian Trail beginning in Front Royal, VA. I started at 9:30 am and was able to accomplish 55 continuous miles until my body crumbled and I was forced to stop at 3:30 am on September 15th. Leading up to the effort I had struggled with 1.5 months of overtraining syndrome and had accomplished very little running. Because of my status leading up to the run I knew when I started that my performance was going to be a gamble. And honestly, that was scary. But I decided to give it my best effort anyway. I was (and still am) so grateful that I was able to even attempt the run, that getting as far as a little under halfway felt like an accomplishment.
But I would say the greatest accomplishment of all was the generation of support for fighting against the Mountain Valley Pipeline and uplift Black Girls Hike RVA. I am beyond proud of everyone who participated and contributed to this project.
MY DONATION:
I have created the goal amount to match the amount that I have donated upon completion of the 100 mile protest project which is $250. Although I did not complete the entire 125 miles I still feel compelled to donate the full amount. As of 9/22/2020 $615 (gofundme donations) + $250 (my donation) = $865 has been sent to Virginia Sierra Club and Black Girls Hike RVA ($432.50 per group) !!!
Thank you to all of you who have supported this project. You have shown me that people still care about intentions and substance. You have made a difference in human's lives, pushed towards a more inclusive outdoors, and stood up to protect your Earth. I am so proud of all of us!
Organizer
Mercedes Walters
Organizer
Washington D.C., DC
