I’ve got a big birthday goal this year! Along with my commitment to give a portion of my annual income to the National Park Services, which will be coming up in October, I’ve decided to also run the Last Dots Standing Race in Belleville, Wisconsin as a fundraiser for the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest.

For my birthday this year, which is also the race weekend (Sept 21st) I will turn 40 years old. I’d like to run a distance PR of 85 miles for 1985 when I was born and honor my favorite place on earth celebrating 100 years this year, as it was established in 1925! Happy Centennial NHALSF!

I will be running 4 miles every hour until I hit 85 miles or I just can’t anymore. It will take about 21 hours or 21 “laps” back and forth to complete it. You could donate as many miles as I complete, as many laps as I complete, or just as much as you’d like. Every bit counts. Please share far and wide to raise money for our beautiful natural land that needs our help to maintain and improve!

My goal is to raise $750 to make a donation to the Crystal Lake Ranger Station in Vilas County who does a memorial plaque at their headquarters from your donations. They then use the donation on projects that better the State Forest. It will directly benefit the areas of need that they see fit. They have done some amazing work in research and restoration over the years and have a long history of forestry and conservation. It would be the best birthday present ever! I will be sending out a check before the end of 2025 and if I exceed my goal, it will still all go to them!

Thank you!

Emily