26 for 26 on 26

More than 1.6 million youth experience homelessness in the United States each year, 40% of whom identify as LGBTQ.  At just 7% of the population, LGBTQ youth are disproportionately affected.  In New York City alone, which has the second highest population of homeless youth in the country, there are as many as 8,000 homeless LGBTQ youth.  

Trinity Place Shelter, located in Manhattan, a 10-bed transitional shelter for LGBTQ youth, provides a safe space to sleep, shower, eat, and store belongings as well as various resources, including group and individual counseling, independent living supportive services, and access to transportation.

On May 5, shortly after my 26th birthday, I will be traveling to Vancouver, BC, a city with one of the largest housing inequalities in the world, to run the Vancouver Marathon.  I want to use this experience as an opportunity to raise awareness for the LGBTQ youth homelessness epidemic and money for Trinity Place Shelter, an organization tackling the problem head on.

My goal is to raise $100 for each of the 26 miles of the race, a total of $2,600.  $2,600 for 26 miles on my 26th birthday.