The older I get, and the more of the world I see, the more I realize how fortunate I was to grow up the way I did. As a kid who was born and raised in the Netherlands, I never thought twice about it: there was always food on the table, new clothes when I needed them, and school was just something you did. It all felt so normal.

But it wasn't normal. It was a privilege.

In the Netherlands, if you want it, the path is there. Primary school, high school, a good education; it's all available. And if you're willing to work hard, you can reach whatever you set your mind to. That's an incredible thing, and it's something I took for granted for a long time.

But in so many places around the world, that opportunity simply doesn't exist. It's not that children there are less driven or less capable... they're just never given the chance. Hard work means nothing when there's no school to walk to.

A solid foundation doesn't just make childhood comfortable; it shapes everything that follows. How much easier is it to build a career, earn a good living, and create a life for yourself when you've had access to education? The answer is simple: immeasurably easier.

That's what this run is about. Not about me crossing a finish line in New York, but about helping children get to their starting line. Because education is where it begins. It's the first step toward a job, toward independence, toward a future they get to shape for themselves. But that step is only possible if it's available to them.

Through Pencils of Promise, every dollar raised goes toward building schools and creating educational opportunities for children in Ghana, Guatemala, and Laos who need them most. I hope that together, we can bring these kids one step closer to the life they deserve!