39.3 Miles for Haiti

Emily Kristine is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

"There is nothing more rewarding than working to alleviate the suffering of others. Nothing can compare to that feeling. The world is in constant need of it. Karma, universal love, infinity, the Holy Spirit, whatever you want to call it. It's this beautiful thing that runs through everyone and keeps us all connected. Changing one persons day for the better literally changes the world due to the chain of effects that follows." -Mark Schmitz

This constant need my brother talks about is a need I have decided to find a small answer to and will do so by raising $5000 and running 39.3 miles.

Many of you are aware that I have run two marathons over the past year, and they have been two of the best days and experiences of my life. In the book "If Not For The Perfect Stranger" one of the Boston Marathon victims wrote "it was awesome, but personally, it was a little anti-climactic. I felt selfish; that I should've been doing it for something bigger, I decided the next time I ran a marathon, someone besides me would benefit from it". This statement resonated deeply within me. Why run for myself when I could benefit others too? When training for my first two marathons I fundraised for two organiations that I am very passionate about.Thank you to all of you who are reading this and had supported me in those runs. On my third marathon I hope to fundraise $5000 for an organization called Magic Beans.

(midway through the Twin Cities Marathon)

So your next question has got to be, what and who is "Magic Beans"?

This fall I had the opportunity of meeting and befriending a young woman by the name of April Cooper. Like myself, April felt the Lord asking her to serve others but to do so in a very challenging way by co-founding an organization called Magic Beans. April and Magic Beans support an orphanage/afterschool program, started a feeding program and have built a church in Haiti. Now, I am a strong believer that nothing is coincidence, we might not always see it right away.. but everyone who walks in and out of our lives has been placed there for a very specific reason; some are more obvious than others...this one being completely obvious. I explained to April how my dad and I have been searching for a short term trip to serve the Haitian community, but haven’t been able to find the right opportunity yet, and I knew instantly this was it.

(This is April down in Haiti)

Having decided this was the organization I was going to serve next, I asked April what we could do to help her and Magic Beans. Her immediate need is pews for the church that Magic Beans built - Nouvelle Vision, so the congregation can feel comfortable and welcome when praying and attending mass. So what was our solution to April’s humble request?

We are going to Haiti!

In March of 2015 my dad and I will be traveling to Montrouis, Haiti to spend a week constructing pews for Nouvelle Vision's parishioners. To build enough pews for the congregation, I need to raise at least $5,000 to buy all of the materials. I will be using my 39.3 mile run as a fundraising tool to accomplish my goal.

(Magic Beans now)

(The pews that we will be constructing)

I would love for you to be part of my mission, and I am asking for monetary donations. Please donate what you can. Thank you in advance for your generosity and helping to enable April, Magic Beans, my dad, and myself to make a huge difference in the Haitian community.

Consider donating enough to pay for a one pew ($170) or half of a pew ($85).

"Don't fail to do something simply becase you can't do everything." -Scott C. Todd

If you have any questions please contact me or my dad:
[email redacted]/[email redacted]