One Thought Away!

Hi everybody, I am kicking off this blog by giving you a run down of what I am doing and why I am doing it.  Thanks for stopping by!

The Maranatha Village orphanage in Titanyen Haiti is approximately 3,400 miles away from Portland.  However, for someone who has been there they know it is much closer; it is one thought away.  One thought of a welcoming smile, one thought of an endless game of paddy cake, or one thought of a choir of orphans singing at night.  It is also one thought away from a different perspective.  One thought of the glazed eyes of a malnourished child, one thought of the realities of cholera on a 12 year old, or one thought of piles of trash stretching for miles and miles under 100 degree heat.

There are so many things in life we do not do because we place limits on ourselves; we convince ourselves we cannot do it by placing a thought in ourselves that we cannot.  This may include limiting ourselves from serving those in need 3,400 miles away in Haiti, or it may mean something very different in your personal life.  Whether it is “I can’t” or “I can”, each is one thought away.

My hope is that we build off the energy these thoughts possess and push the limits of what we think we can do by sharing my own journey from “I can’t” to “I can”.  As someone who has never ran more than 6 miles at one time I thought to myself one day of the many doubts in being able to run the 26.2 miles needed to complete a marathon.  My second thought was how overcoming this could cause a ripple effect of others overcoming their own doubts.  With that in mind I have signed up for the 2012 Portland Marathon.

By pushing my limits I hope to raise funds for the 41 child orphanage in Titanyen Haiti for things they doubt they can have (see below) through the Portland based nonprofit Ncompass* as well as spark a fire in your own life to push the limits of what you think you can do.  Doing something amazing in your life is one thought away.

Specific projects funds will go to:

·         Window shutters

·         School costs

·         Microfinance

·         New stoves

·         Well costs

My goal is to raise $3,400 (one dollar for every mile from Portland to Titanyen, Haiti) by race day October 7th.  Ways you can support this effort include:

·         Spreading this message to friends and family

o   Posting info on your Facebook wall, Twitter, or other social media

o   Word of mouth

o   Your organizations, clubs, or networks

·         Keeping the children of the orphanage and myself in your prayers and thoughts

·         Forwarding suggested training tips, words of encouragement and suggested songs while I train

·         Donating financially (donate to the “Haiti General Fund” with the comment of “One Thought Away”*

o   Support me reaching my goal “one marathon at a time” with a suggested donation of $26.20 is encouraged however any amount is appreciated

Thank you so much for your support and I encourage you to give this your thought J

Follow my progress from now until October on Twitter and my Blog.

*Learn more about the work already being done in this orphanage through the Ncompass organization

*Ncompass is a 501 (C)(3) nonprofit and your donation is considered tax deductible