<div>Hi! I'm Kay Makishi, I'm running one of the toughest marathons in the world <a href="https://www.marathondessables.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marathon des Sables</a> (250KM, 7 days) across the Sahara Desert in Morocco this April 2025. To follow the journey and get daily one minute video updates from me LIVE from the desert April 5-12, donate any amount by clicking Donate Now. 
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<div><strong>My goal is to raise $1 for every 1KM I run for girls living on less than $1 per day. </strong>
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<div>Thank you to my sponsors and supporters for covering my race costs to help make this a reality! <a href="https://www.beatriceadvisors.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beatrice Advisors</a>, <a href="https://www.lupoff.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lupoff/Stevens Family Office</a>, and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-rogers-cpa-021b071/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Don Rogers</a>.
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<div><strong>Why Am I Running Marathon des Sables?</strong> Well, first of all, 12 years ago, I said I'm going to do it one day and I always follow through with my word. Took 12 years, but I'm finally getting around to a promise to myself. I believe integrity is everything in life, that is, you do what you say you're going to do. Second, I believe in showing not telling, action over theory, results over hypothesis. Also..
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<div>I believe people can do anything they put their minds to.
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<div>I believe to change our world we must first change ourselves.
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<div>I believe in personal growth.
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<div>I believe in continuous growth.
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<div>I actually hate running.
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<div>But I love growth more.
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<div>(I'm not a runner. I've ran 1 marathon before this, Tokyo Marathon, 11 years ago. This will be my second ever race.)
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<div>I believe it's good to truly push the boundaries once in awhile-- physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually-- there's something beautiful and exhilarating in the process even if or perhaps because of the pain, struggle as well as the focus, discipline, and consistency required along the way. I believe this is more of an inner than outer journey. I believe it's 100% more mental than physical. Similar to how a decade ago, I solo cycled the <a href="https://silkpeacecycle.wordpress.com/about/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Silk Road- 5000 miles, 5 months, 5 countries</a>.
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<div>And, I'm passionate about uplifting women and girls around the world.
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<div>By no means am I in the upper echelons of what success in this world is defined as, but I believe that that doesn't really matter, and each of us can make our small positive dents. So, here's my attempt to hopefully make that small positive dent for one girl....
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<div>During my race, my goal will be to raise $250 for the 250KM I'm running to support a <a href="https://www.projectsoar.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">local Moroccan nonprofit, Project Soar, working to</a> empower local teenage girls by providing them tools for education and keeping them in school.
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<div>$250 provides <a href="https://www.projectsoar.org/girls-empowerment" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">25 empowerment workshops</a> for one teenage girl or <a href="https://www.projectsoar.org/menstrual-kit" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">menstral kits to 10 girls</a>.
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<div>All donors (regardless of amount) will receive my daily updates LIVE from the desert during my ultramarathon!
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<div>Thank you for supporting these girls with me!
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<div>Warm Regards (quite literally, from the Sahara Desert!),
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<div>Kay Makishi
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<div>References
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<li><strong>Kay's Personal Website</strong>: <a href="https://kaymakishi.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://kaymakishi.com/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://kaymakishi.com/</a></a>
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<li><strong>Kay's Personal Website on MDS: </strong><a href="https://kaymakishi.com/250km-in-2025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://kaymakishi.com/250km-in-2025" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://kaymakishi.com/250km-in-2025</a></a>
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<li><strong>Kay's LinkedIn</strong>: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaymakishi/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaymakishi/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaymakishi/</a></a>
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<li><strong>Marathon Des Sables Official Website: </strong><a href="https://www.marathondessables.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.marathondessables.com/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.marathondessables.com/</a></a>
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<li><strong>Project Soar Website </strong>(nonprofit funds will be donated to): <a href="https://www.projectsoar.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.projectsoar.org/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.projectsoar.org/</a></a>
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<li><strong>Project Soar Founder's LinkedIn: </strong><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryam-montague-2563935/?originalSubdomain=ma" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryam-montague-2563935/?originalSubdomain=ma" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryam-montague-2563935/?originalSubdomain=ma</a></a>
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<li><strong>New York Times Article on Project Soar: </strong><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/17/world/africa/morocco-maryam-montague.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/17/world/africa/morocco-maryam-montague.html" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/17/world/africa/morocco-maryam-montague.html</a></a>
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/89725483_1743427036858119_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div>Standing next to "The Fearless Girl" on Wall Street in NYC. Cheers to creating more fearless girls around the world!
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/89725483_1742932052608877_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div>Source: Project Soar. Some Project Soar girls. After my 250KM ultramarathon, I will visit Project Soar's headquarters in Morocco.
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Kay's 250KM Run To Raise $250 to Support Girls

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