Help Send Orange Beach Mako Runner to Kenya!!
Donation protected
Hi my name is Xander McLaughlin and I am trying to raise funds to participate in a community service and cross country training program that I have been accepted to participate in.
The program will consist of 18 runners from around the US and is hosted by Strive Trips. It will be 21 days long in the summer of 2022 in Peru, South America. As part of the program I will have the opportunity to participate in service projects with the local community, train in the high altitude of the Andes mountains, and visit historically significant sites like Machu Picchu.
I am currently a sophomore at Orange Beach High School (OBHS) and in my third season as a Varsity Cross Country (XC) runner. My freshman year I placed 17th at the 2A XC State Championship Meet and have been working hard to improve on that this season. My next race is the Alabama Area 1 XC Sectionals on 10/28/21 in Andalusia AL, and if I perform well there the 2A XC State Meet on 11/06/21. I am working hard to run a sub 17 minute 5k and currently have an official PR of 17:14.
My fund raising goal is $6,000 by the end of February 2022 to pay for the cost of the program and to raise money for the community service projects of the program. Each participating athletes is asked to raise a minimum of $400 dollars for the community service projects and the cost of the program is $5,000 due March of 2022.
I believe that this program will help me grow in many different areas:
- As a youth ambassador representing the United States and the Orange Beach community
- As a runner training at altitude to help with my progression for my junior XC season
- As a young adult working with other young adults to accomplish personal and team goals in a new and challenging environment
I know that this program and the experiences I will gain will be something that I can share with my teammates/classmates and that it will hopefully encourage them to search out similar opportunities in the future.
Thank you for allowing me to share my goals with you, and for your support in this endeavor.
Very Respectfully,
Xander McLaughlin
Orange Beach High School
***Update 11/12/2021***
Since being selected to participate in this incredible summer program I have run in two more races, the AL 1A/2A Sectional Meet in Andalusia AL where I finished 1st and set a new course record my team placed 2nd, and the AL 1A/2A State Meet in Lawrence AL where I finished 2nd overall and my team finished 6th out of 28 teams, I also set a new PR of 16:58 for the 5k. I was blessed to be selected and presented an award as the Mobile Optimist Club runner of the week for my 5th place performance at the Baldwin County Championships where schools from 1A to 7A compete. This years XC season has been a great success for me and my team and I look to build on that going into next season, thanks again for all your support.
Very Respectfully,
Xander McLaughlin
***Update 05/03/2022***
Hello Everyone,
Thank you again for supporting me in my pursuit of traveling abroad this summer to train, learn, and grow as a runner and young adult.
We recently received news from Strive Trips that the Peru trip would not be happening this year due to several factors including Covid. This was devastating news at first, but Strive Trips has offered for me to attend the more expensive trip to Kenya at the same cost as the Peru trip. After speaking with my parents I have decided that I would love to attend the Kenya trip and have started making my adjustments to make this happen.
As donors to the Peru trip I wanted to communicate with all of you the change in plans and give you the opportunity to receive your donation back if this is not a trip that you would like to support me for. This trip is every bit as exciting as the Peru Trip, but with its own unique opportunities. I have to admit I was pretty bummed to hear that I wouldn’t be getting to see Machu Picchu, but that quickly went away when I found out the details of the Kenya trip and the service work we would be doing, going on safari in the Masai Mara, and the opportunity to train with some olympic running legends like Eliud Kipchoge.
I am super excited about this opportunity and can’t wait to go and then share all I’ve learned and experienced with everyone when I get back. Below is a link to the Kenya trip information for you to check out, if this is not something you would like to support me in please let me know and I will work on refunding your donation. Thanks again for all your support
https://strivetrips.org/hs-kenya-overview/
Very Respectfully,
Xander McLaughlin
***Update 05/03/2022***
Hello Everyone,
Thank you again for supporting me in my pursuit of traveling abroad this summer to train, learn, and grow as a runner and young adult.
We recently received news from Strive Trips that the Peru trip would not be happening this year due to several factors including Covid. This was devastating news at first, but Strive Trips has offered for me to attend the more expensive trip to Kenya at the same cost as the Peru trip. After speaking with my parents I have decided that I would love to attend the Kenya trip and have started making my adjustments to make this happen.
As donors to the Peru trip I wanted to communicate with all of you the change in plans and give you the opportunity to receive your donation back if this is not a trip that you would like to support me for. This trip is every bit as exciting as the Peru Trip, but with its own unique opportunities. I have to admit I was pretty bummed to hear that I wouldn’t be getting to see Machu Picchu, but that quickly went away when I found out the details of the Kenya trip and the service work we would be doing, going on safari in the Masai Mara, and the opportunity to train with some olympic running legends like Eliud Kipchoge.
I am super excited about this opportunity and can’t wait to go and then share all I’ve learned and experienced with everyone when I get back. Below is a link to the Kenya trip information for you to check out, if this is not something you would like to support me in please let me know and I will work on refunding your donation. Thanks again for all your support
https://strivetrips.org/hs-kenya-overview/
Very Respectfully,
Xander McLaughlin
Organizer
Drew McLaughlin
Organizer
Orange Beach, AL