Triathlon for the Arhuaco tribe of the Sierra
From February 25th - March 2nd of this year, a wild fire tore through the Colombian Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta. The fire was a result of an irregular dry season and has left over 70 families displaced and destroyed schools, restaurants and vast amounts of their community infrastructure. For more info
This protected land is home to various indigenous groups and also a close friend of mine named Rafael (Bunchanawin) Elias Zabata.
He is a member of the Arhuaco Tribe and one of the community organizers requesting outreach to help rebuild their community. The Arhuaco tribe have lived in harmony with their land and the earth for thousands of years and have deep spiritual roots embedded in how they connect with their land through their cultural norms and lifestyle. It hasn't been until recently that the land has experienced such disasters as wild fires. The dry seasonal irregularity is due to a number of reasons including mining and drilling all throughout the region which has continued for many years against the tribe's wishes. The Indigenous groups have protested these drillings and exploitations knowing the troubles they would lead to, but they have fallen on deaf ears. As a result, a whole community of people's homes are being destroyed as a bi-product of other's exploitations. More information here
After consistent communication with Rafael, we've already been able to send funds to the community, but there is still a long way to go for them to recover.
As a result, I've decided to dedicate the Half Iron man triathlon I've been training for, for the last 5 months to Rafael and his community. My Goal is to reach $3,000 USD by June 2nd, when my Triathlon will take place in Connecticut. 
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Anything you can donate in response to this disaster is greatly appreciated and a little goes a long way down there : )
For more information on the indigenous communities, see here Indigenous of the Sierra Nevada.