It's February 5 and we are 95 days (2,299 hours) away from the start of GRACERUNNER JOURNEY - 10 days - 413 miles - ONE goal, to Glorify God! We still have a lot of training to do and much logistical work to accomplish. We need your support both financially and at the running venues along our path. As of today, this is our schedule:
May 12 - Homewood, AL (Lakeshore Greenbelt Trail)
May 13 - Pontotoc, MS and Memphis, TN
May 14 - Springfield, MO (Bass Pro Shops Complex)
May 15 - St. Louis, MO (Forest Park)
May 16 - Champaign, IL and Chicago, IL (Lake Michigan Trail)
May 17 - Des Moines, IA
May 18 - Duluth, MN (Lake Superior Trail)
May 19 - 21 - Fargo, ND (Local Park & Marathon Course)
We need help at each venue with logistics. Our plan is to set up a staging area with our RV at local "running" parks along our journey. We need local volunteers from each city to do some leg work for us to check on what we need to do to get permission to park our RV at these locations and to alert local media of our cause and journey. We'll be at each site for approximately 12 hours.
My plan is to run smaller loops so that I'll be able to replenish fluids, food, etc. along the way. It will also allow local folks to come out and run with me for a few miles. Kiki, my wife, will be our crew chief and will be at the RV with TEAM 413 & GRACERUNNER JOURNEY gear, my books, posters, and other gear. Folks will also have an opportunity to contribute to our cause while we are in their city. After the day is completed, we hope to hang out for an hour or so with the local group or have a speaking engagement in that city. Then, we'll be off to the next location.
From a planning perspective, this is a huge undertaking especially since we don't have anyone who does this as their job. We are totally volunteer led and have to plan in the evenings and on weekends. So, we need your help in each city. If you live in one of the cities along our journey, we simply ask that you contact us via email at chris@team413.org and let us know how you will be willing to help. If you know great running venues in your area that are better than the ones we have listed above, please let us know. If I haven't listed a location beside a city, it's because we are still looking for the right spot.
We ask that you consider a pledge to our cause which will help TEAM 413 and three other charities. We'll be raising funds for The Dick Beardsley Foundation, Constructores Para Cristo, and The Great Circle. Each of these charities is worthy of your donations. We chose each of them because we believe in the people who are involved and because of their work and mission. Over the past few days we have raised several thousand dollars. We have received personal and corporate pledges and sponsorships. Some folks are giving in memory or honor of a loved one. Others are giving just because they believe in what we are doing.
Currently, our corporate sponsors are:
~ Swiftwick Socks
~ The Stick
~ Dandy RV Super Store
~ Kool 'n' Fit Conditioning Spray
~ Fargo Running Company
~ The Fargo Marathon
~ Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Fitness Festival
We need more corporate sponsorship as well as individuals to step up and help us reach our goal of glorifying God along our journey and with our fundraising efforts.
I'm committed to finishing this drill! Please join me as I run the miles that God has placed in front of me - Join me in our endeavor to achieve much for many - Join me in lifting up the name of Christ to all creation - Join me as we celebrate God's goodness and grace in our life!
Under HIS Grace...
Chris
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