It has been a crazy dream of mine for some time now to run a marathon, one of those things on your bucket list that seems significant but just about possible anytime in life (when in reality it does take lots of planning, dedication, and will be done much easier while I’m still in my 20’s).
Ever since experiencing my first marathon in the beautiful misty, green lands of New Zealand I have been intrigued by the physical and mental challenge of it, as well as the great strive for health one takes on in the challenge. In the past 5 years, I have slowly brought myself closer and closer to signing up, but have not been able to commit, tackle and actually do a marathon. Well, at least not until I turned a quarter century old (feeling the pressure of half way to 30), and was approached with the fantastic idea of making the journey more than one dream of mine, but two dreams in one.
When I was 10 I was fortunate to go to Russia and work with Orphaned children in a camp for 2 weeks. A child myself I didn’t realize the importance of this trip outside of my comfort zone, and wouldn’t know how much it affected me until I found myself applying for College that had campuses based around the world. My studies in Latin America, North America, South Africa, India and Australia, brought me beyond the borders I had known and was comfortable with. It showed me cultures and ways of the world that I did not and could not always understand such poverty and malnutrition. This travel sparked a bigger dream of mine, possibly the biggest in my life; the dream to start a non-profit to help children living in poverty.
Now living in Asia, 10 years after this “great dream” was initiated and I am faced with the opportunity to take my first bite of it. By carrying out my one personal dream (running a marathon), I can make other dreams come true, dreams for myself and dreams for many others less fortunate than I.
The Run Beyond Borders, is as it sounds; running beyond our borders to allow for children in poverty to go run and play beyond theirs. It is rooted in the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to see what is outside of their community, what is beyond their culture and what is further than their borders.
The Run is not a charity (maybe one day if this is successful), but it is a charitable cause that we (Lex and I) have created to make this one dream into as many dreams possible for ourselves and as many others as we can.
The success of the run depends on how many people can relate to us; how many of you that have pursued for a dream of your own and thought how wonderful it would be to share this dream with others. Most of what makes it all worth while is being able to say “I’m running this not only for myself but for all the children in Payatas that will be able to run, explore and see the world because of this.”
Please help us make these dreams possible…
Cooper,
The rest of the country may not be able to thank you for what you and Lexton are doing for our countrymen, most importantly the kids, rest assured that this will bring you good karma for the rest of your life. From someone who almost was a street kid (my mom being a street educator for more than half her life, and would often bring us along to wherever she’ll be working), thank you very much for making a big impact on those kids’ lives.