Charity Miles

Hit the streets. Change the world. #everymilematters 

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Johnson & Johnson New Years Challenge!

Make 2017 your best year ever! You’re already moving for a cause which means you care about your health while doing good for the world. Keep that good going and do even more by joining the Johnson & Johnson New Year’s Challenge.

 From Today, December 31st through January 8th, you’ll have the opportunity to earn New Year’s badges when you run, walk, bike, skip or dance for Operation Smile, Save the children, Girl Up and Sight for Kids. Want to make your impact go further? 

Download the free Johnson & Johnson Donate a Photo app to make your photos do good, or help fund a global health project to improve the health of others through CaringCrowd®.

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World AIDS Day Challenge presented by Johnson & Johnson

Today is #WorldAIDSDay. Our sponsors Johnson & Johnson are challenging YOU to raise awareness for those impacted by the AIDS epidemic all over the world. On World AIDS Day, we remember, we hope, and we keep working toward an HIV-free world. World AIDS day is about living, stories of hope, and progress.  See stories of progress and how you can make a difference at  jnj.com/HIV. To help spread awareness with Charity Miles, we challenge you to dedicate your miles to RED, and participate in our World AIDS Day Challenge! It's easy! Today (12/1) through 12/10, simply log miles for (RED). When you move for (RED) for the next 9 days (until 12/10), you'll earn virtual badges that symbolize Awareness (any distance!) Progress (1 mile), Research (2 miles), and Hope (3 miles) to support those impacted by the epidemic, as well as the individuals and organizations making a difference. You'll receive the badges inside of the app, as well as in an email sent the next day. Please save or screenshot your badge image and share to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with the tags #WorldsAIDSDay and #JNJ. Collect 'em all, and SHARE to help spread awareness around the hope, progress and research actively happening thanks to the support of great organizations like Johnson & Johnson!

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Today is #GivingTuesday, a global day to give back. Show your support this giving season with #GiveaGIF! http://thndr.me/dXehMS

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Gifts of Joy Challenge presented by Johnson & Johnson

We're excited to announce our first challenge of the holiday season, Gifts of Joy Challenge presented by Johnson & Johnson!  From today until Giving Tuesday (11/22) we're celebrating the great work done by our charity partner, Save the Children. Every year Save the Children has a Gifts of Joy catalog, where you can buy gifts for families in need in honor of people you love. The Gifts of Joy Challenge is themed around different gifts available in this year's Save the Children, Gifts of Joy. Soccer Ball Badge- Log at least 1 Charity Mile for Save the Children. Goat Badge- Log at least 3 Charity Miles for Save the Children. School Clinic Badge- Log at least 5 Charity Miles for Save the Children Water Point Badge- Share your Charity Miles to Facebook or Twitter.  This holiday season, you have the chance to send a girl to school, provide an essentials kit to a refugee child, or help a family in need with life-saving livestock. When you buy from the Gifts of Joy holiday catalog Johnson & Johnson will match your gift up to $450,000, here.

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Charity Miles Team Spotlight: Blue Saw Nation

This week's Charity Miles Team Spotlight is on Blue Saw Nation. Dr. Andrew C. Guyader started the team to encourage his students to get moving before his 7am class. For logging Charity Miles students can unlock "insider information" for exams as a reward for making their miles matter.

I (Dr. Andrew C Guyader) teach engineering mechanics and created a teaching pedagogy using colors  - one of them being “blue” which has morphed into The BlueSaw (@bluesawatx) (engineering talk removed)  I need my students to find internal forces and The BlueSaw gives them the ability to do it! I

We have class early in the morning -  7am early and for 180 people to file into an auditorium to listen to me….. We have two hurdles to conquer.  One is waking up BUT a better one is going to sleep.  Exercise is a part of that. Students walk around campus more than they realize so collecting these miles could and should add up quickly and maybe it will get someone to get a little more exercise than what they normally do - a great thing for college age students!  Maybe that gets them to bed a little earlier and eating a bit more healthy. Hopefully, the snowball rolls downhill and momentum drives the group.  Macro-level group dynamics.

The students have a great opportunity to develop a sense of charity and donation even though they probably do not have much exposable income. Charity Miles is a great way for this group to be a vehicle for charity - they have the energy and time to do it. Better yet. everyone can contribute.  Even if they do not have a cell phone or one that can carry this app, they can get someone else to do it. 

I’m offering some “insider information”. for the entire class based on the performance of team: BlueSawNation.  If we hit some goals then triggers happen in terms of say a hint sheet heading into an exam or number of questions on an exam or practice problems released heading into an exam, etc. 

It is an all or nothing proposition for the entire class. Yes, is all about leverage but this is very soft pressure. It’s easy for me to keep them thinking about internal forces in engineering mechanics. The BlueSaw says it all.

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Charity Miles Adventurers: Jennifer Lecorchick

Charity Miles Ambassador and Adventurer Jennifer Lecorchick rode a 50 mile bike race with Charity Miles!

Hincape Gran Fondo - Greenville, SC The race began at 9am with a temperature of 43* (beginning) 53* (end) The Medio route (50 mile) was an intermediate ride through the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains with 1500 feet of climbing and some amazing views.  The ride began in South Carolina, just outside of Greenville and ventured into North Carolina before returning to the starting line in SC.  

My cycling training began in May of this year with an original goal of completing my first triathlon. Little did I know how much I would fall in love with my bike.  

Once I completed my triathlon, adjustments were made to my training program to help prepare for the rigors of the Hincape ride. Longer training rides and hill work took over my training plan. 

This 50 mile ride was amazing and cannot wait to do it again!  Throughout my training, I cycled for several different charities: Pencils of Promise, Habitat for Humanity, ASPCA, Girls on the Run.  I’m always amazed at how quickly the miles accumulate while on my bike and thankful that I am helping others while doing something that I love! Especially with great friends! 

Route Stats: DISTANCE: 50 MICLIMBS: 2  Climb #1: Salude Grande Climb #2: Callahan MountainRESTSTOPS: 3CLIMBING ELEVATION: 2641ft DESCENDING ELEVATION: -2740ft

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Charity Miles Champion: Kim Bow!

One of the most life altering events I have experienced thus far came in the form Alzheimer’s disease. My grandfather died of Alzheimer’s and his journey through the disease and ultimately his death touched me in a very deep way. He died Easter morning three years ago with family having been there constantly remembering and honoring his life. 

After his death, I wanted to become involved in ending Alzheimer’s so I sought out the Alzheimer’s Association. My experience at the Alzheimer’s Association has been fantastic. It has been such an honor to be around people so devoted to ending Alzheimer’s and supporting those with the disease and their families. As a volunteer, I have been blessed with the opportunity to be a support group leader for the adult child caregiver’s group and later for a teen group.

Right around the same time I happened to go to the Education Symposium that the Alzheimer’s Association presents every year and saw a table about a program called the ALZ STARS. This program featured opportunities for people to enter into marathons, half marathons, triathlons, and other activities to raise money. I was hooked by the idea and entered into my first triathlon. Why a triathlon? For years I had said that I would never do a triathlon because of fear for one and two because I thought that it would be way too hard. So what better way to honor the memory of my grandfather than going on a journey that is scary and hard. I successfully finished and as the saying goes the rest is history…. My life changed and I have since continued on in my triathlon journey which has cumulated this season with my first Ironman still honoring on my grandfather and raising money for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Charity Miles has only sweetened the journey. I learned about Charity Miles when I was reading a copy of Runner’s World. I downloaded it immediately after reading that section because it was such a perfect way to keep bingeing awareness to the Alzheimer’s Association when a workout posted on my Facebook page. Additionally, I could keep raising funds all along my triathlon journey. Bonus - More people become aware of Charity Miles and will hopefully give it a try to find the cause that means something to them. I love inspiring others to get out to find a form of exercise that makes them happy and a cause that inspires them.

My goal in raising funds and awareness has always been and always will be to help bring an end to Alzheimer’s disease. I know from personal experience what it feels like to watch someone I love go through this disease and I never want any family/friend/acquaintance to lose someone to Alzheimer’s. Whenever I step out my door to go for a run or go for a bike ride turning on my Charity Miles allows me to work towards my goal and reminds that even a simple step has the power to change the course of the future.

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Charity Miles Champion Melissa  Frye

Charity Miles Champion Melissa plays flag football for BVBDC for Alzheimer's Association in memory of her grandparents. See how she turned her passion for running into a way to raise money to help end Alzheimers. 

Running relieves my stress, helped me land a husband and keeps me in shape! My love for running began about 15 years ago when I was in high school. I used running as a form of stress relief when I was not playing basketball or volleyball. I ran to my friend’s houses to hang out, I ran to practice, I ran all over my small hometown of Westborough, MA. In college, I used running as both a stress relief and a method of keeping off the “freshman 15.” No matter what happens in my life, I know that I can turn to a quick 3 mile jog for alone time, comfort, stress relief, and weight loss.

Running also reconnected my college friend, now-husband, and I about 4 years ago. He challenged me to sign up for my first race the “Friends of the W&OD 10K.” We made it an annual race together once we started dating and haven’t missed a year! I’ve since completed several races to include 3.2 for 32 Virginia Tech Remembrance 5K, Army Ten Miler, Nike Women’s Half Marathon, and Rock ‘n’ Roll Philly half marathon. Training for these races showed me that if I set a goal, I have the drive, self-discipline and dedication to reach it.   In the midst of the running fun,

 I decided to get involved with Blondes vs. Brunettes (BVB) DC. BvB DC is a non-profit, 100% volunteer-driven group of young professional women who play flag football in support of the Alzheimer’s Association. We fundraise, train, plan social events and volunteer in our local community for our cause. Every dollar we raise goes directly to the Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area Chapter. 

Alzheimer's awareness has a special place in my heart; unfortunately, this disease took both of my Mother's parents. I witnessed my Dziadek (Polish for Grandfather) and Babcia (Polish for Grandmother) go from living their normal lives to slowly deteriorating mentally and physically to the point where they didn't remember their own family members. I am on Team Blonde because my Babcia had the blondest hair you've ever seen on a 92 year old - she wouldn't have it any other way! I know she looks down on me from time to time and is proud that I am following in her philanthropic footsteps.

When BvB teamed up with Charity Miles my two worlds were connected! I am able to log my miles and fundraise for Alzheimer’s all at once! Each mile I walk or run is tracked by Charity Miles, sponsored by Humana who donates money for every mile! Join our team at BvBDC in the Charity Miles app, and help us in our fight against Alzheimer’s!

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Charity Miles Champion, Pippa!

Today’s Charity Miles Champion is Pippa. Pippa’s parents Patti Tempio-Wilson and Chris Wilson are Charity Miles Ambassadors who fearlessly advocate for animals, and are very active in local efforts to help dogs and cats to find their forever homes.

In March of 2015 Pippa was found pregnant and emaciated by a group that works specifically rescuing pregnant dogs from kill shelters in CA, she gave birth to 7 puppies in foster care, but only 2 survived, her adorable healthy puppies found forever homes as soon as they were old enough! Pippa was still skittish and although she was in a loving foster home, they were helping other animals and that was a bit overwhelming for her. As part of a Mother's Day initiative, Pippa was transferred to our local shelter, where we are active fosters and volunteers, Petaluma Animal Services. We got the call and went immediately to go pick her up!  

She had not been eating, was scared, shaking, and pinned to the floor.  She calmed down and started to trust us thanks to our dog Bacci, who put her at ease and let her know she was in good hands!  She ate some chicken and curled up and fell right asleep.  😊

Over the next week, she got very comfortable and made herself at home! We were all pretty smitten with her and although she had a few meet and greets with potential adopters, they fell through for one reason or another. We took this as a sure fire sign that she was meant to be with us forever and we became official "foster fails" on Father's Day! 

When she first came to stay with us she could barely walk 1/4 mile before she needed to rest, she's now a full-fledged Charity Miles Ambassador Dog and can run a 10k with ease! We’re thrilled to have Pippa join Bacci as our training coach and help us prep for several half marathons.  

Pippa has since helped us successfully foster many dogs and kittens for Petaluma Animal Services Foundation (PASF). PASF has pioneered the Foster to Adopt program, allowing pets and their people the chance to get to know each other in their new environment. This method produces excellent results with no pressure and no judgement if things just don't work out. The staff stands by their animals and is always there to ensure training and transition success! PASF also helps our large transient community provide food and vaccinations for the pets of our homeless humans. In gaining their trust with compassion, respect and care, if/when these people in housing crisis decide to relinquish their pets, they do so knowing that PASF will make sure they are adopted into the right home! 

You can support PASF through our booster campaign here. And of course, you can help animals in need all over the country by dedicating your Charity Miles to the ASPCA. Get started with the ASPCA SHELTER DOG CHALLENGE!  

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Charity Miles Champion: Stacy Clark

Charity Miles Champion Stacy Clark, logs her Charity Miles for the ASPCA, WHILE walking shelter dogs!!!! Volunteering and earning money at the same time. 

I love volunteering my time with shelter dogs.  I cannot begin to explain the feeling you get when a disheartened, lonely dog gives you a kiss and crawls into your lap, just absorbing your affection like a sponge, or how much fun it is to see the excitement of a dog about to head on a walk or play fetch.

Volunteering at the shelter is not only a fun way to give back, but also a wonderful way to feed your own soul.  I get back just as much as I give when I am at the shelter.  Nothing brings me more joy than to bring the joy out of them!  

I am currently volunteering my time at Pet Refuge, a not-for-profit “no-kill” animal shelter located in South Bend, Indiana.  What I love most about Pet Refuge is that they are determined to find a loving family for every pet, regardless of their age or any special needs they may have.  They have truly made it their mission to find all the pets in their care a special, forever home. 

You can help dogs in need by volunteering at a shelter near you! Visit ASPCA’s website to find a shelter near you.  

You can also join our ASPCA SHELTER DOG CHALLENGE! Details here http://blog.charitymiles.org/post/152170007119/aspca-shelter-dog-challenge.  

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ASPCA SHELTER DOG CHALLENGE

Q: Is anything better than pictures of cute dogs on the Internet? A: Yes! Happy dogs walking and running around outside!

We invite you to join us & our partners at the ASPCA in promoting National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, by participating in the ASPCA SHELTER DOG CHALLENGE! 

The ASPCA does incredible work all year to fulfill their mission of providing effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. In October, they're focusing on spreading awareness about the 7.6 million dogs who enter shelters throughout the US each year who are in need of loving homes. 

It's easy for all to enter, and you don't need to have a dog to participate. But we do encourage lots of sharing for the dog lovers in our community!  Here's how the Challenge works: 

ASPCA SHELTER DOG CHALLENGE

Small Dog Badge To Earn Badge:

1. Select ASPCA in the Charity Miles app 

2. Move for 30 minutes, or more. 

The average dog needs to be walked for 30 mins. You don't need a dog to earn this badge, but log miles with a dog or without in support of our furry friends. 

Big Dog Badge To Earn Badge: 

1. Select ASPCA in the Charity Miles app 

2. Get moving, and add a picture! Take a picture right in the Charity Miles app of you: walking your own dog, walking your friend's dog, or volunteer to walk a shelter dog! Or even just go for a walk yourself and a snap a pic and tag ASPCA in the social share to show your support, no dog required. 

3. Share your session (as soon as you're done) on social media, right through the Charity Miles app! Whether you walk a dog or just show your support for dogs, you’re making a difference for the ASPCA :)

Pro-tip: Please allow the badge a few seconds to load once you have completed the 30 mins or shared your photo. The badge doesn't last long in the app, but you will get an email the next morning with a downloadable image to share on social. *Make sure you use #ASPCA #CharityMiles 

BONUS: We partnered with WAG! The nation’s largest and most trusted private dog walking service and first ever dog walking app. WAG has granted us a link that provides three free walks with WAG as a reward. We will be sending the link to redeem out to participants in the ASPCA SHELTER DOG Challenge who earn the Big Dog Badge!! See you out there, woof woof!

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Charity Miles Champion: Jennifer Cook

My name is Jennifer Cook and I am the Executive Director of the Katie Caples Foundation. The Katie Caples Foundation works to educate and raise awareness about organ donation and transplantation with the mission to increase the number of registered organ donors and reduce the wait for the more than 122,000 adults and children in need of a life-saving organ transplant. 

The Katie Caples Foundation’s  core to our mission to increase the number of registered organ donors, is to expand our culture of giving.  We want people to register as an organ donor, to commit to give life to others.  One organ donor can save eight lives with solid organ donation and dramatically improve the lives of another fifty with soft tissue donation.  

When you register to be an organ donor you are making a heroic decision that can save lives and change many for the better. Generosity is key to who we are and to the message we are delivering. We believe that when you can give you should give. And we were excited that our team could support all sorts of non-profits and great causes.

We found Charity Miles online.  We were searching for a way to put all the miles our supporters log to good work. The Katie Caples Foundation each April puts on the Katie Ride.  This is a fund and awareness raising cycling/running/walking/triathlete event for the Foundation that brings together participants from around the country.    

In its 13th year the Katie Ride has cycling events for all experience levels from 18 miles on up to 100 mile rides, an off-road cycling event, an 8K walk and fun run plus a fun triathlon.  It’s a fully supported event that often draws 1,000 plus participants and volunteers. 

The Katie Ride happens during National Donate Life Month and works to raise awareness about organ donation and transplantation.  Each year this event results in about 30,000 miles logged just on the day of the Ride and countless logged miles in preparation for the Ride.  We were anxious to find a way to put all those miles to good work. 

We formed the @katiecaplesorg team on Charity Miles  in October of 2015. We wanted our supporters to also be able to support other worthy causes and efforts. With just under 100 members the team has logged over 105,000 miles! 

The @katiecaplesorg team is amazing because we have a very large cycling/running community within the region.  These athletes support us every year at the Katie Ride and we knew forming the team would be an awesome way to not only do good with all those miles but to raise awareness about the work that we are doing.  We feel strongly that we’re in this together and supporting Charity Miles and the amazing opportunities it is creating is just one more way that we can develop that culture of giving back.  

We are SO proud of the @kateicaplesorg team.  It has been so inspiring to watch this team grow and log those miles. In the last 2 weeks alone the team has logged in about 300 miles a day.  That’s just incredible. We have so many champions on this team, but we are especially grateful to Dan Lehmann for all his hard work in developing the team.  The North Florida Bike Club is another shining star in this effort. The Katie Caples Foundation and Katie Ride are so fortunate to have so many committed and generous supporters and the NFBC has been a real champion of ours.  We LOVE that they so wholly embraced our call to action in the creation and growth of the @katiecaplesorg Charity Miles team.

We’re just so honored to be a part of this amazing effort at Charity Miles.  We’d like to invite all the Charity Miles folks to the 2017 Katie Ride, scheduled for April 22nd on stunning Amelia Island, Florida.  It’s a fun and inspiring event and a great way to log some big miles for Charity Miles.  We’d love for everyone to join us!  You can learn more at www.katiecaples.org and join our team @katiecaplesorg!

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International Day of the Girl Challenge!

Team,

Today, October 11th, is International Day of the Girl. Join us in celebrating and supporting girls around the world ALL WEEK with our IDG Challenge, in support of our charity partner,  Girl Up! Girl Up's mission is to ensure that adolescent girls can go to school, see a doctor, participate in their communities, and live free from violence, which is key in driving social and economic change. Girls in developing countries have to walk an average of 3 miles a day to get essential supplies for their families like water and firewood. In Malawi alone, the distance can be up to 10 miles per day. These girls are spending hours of precious time walking that they could be spending at school.   We want to change that. So, in honor of International Day of the Girl, Charity Miles and our partners at Johnson & Johnson are challenging YOU to move 3 miles, and also 10 miles, this week (10/11-10/18). We have two custom badges (one for 3 miles, one for 10 miles), you’ll earn each of them when you complete each distance! It’s easy! 1) Move 3 or 10 Charity Miles for Girl Up 2) Receive badge as an in-app message and email.3) Save badge image by screen-shotting form app, or saving from email.4) Share the badge to your social media using #IDG2016. And of course don’t forget to thank our amazing sponsors JNJ for supporting girls around the world. #ProTip: You don’t have to end your session on exactly 3 or exactly 10 miles! Anywhere between 3 and 9.9 miles will earn you badge one, any session 10 miles or longer will earn you badge two!! Cheers, Team Charity Miles

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Carry the Baton

Thank you to everyone who joined our sponsor Humana to Carry the Baton in support of Baton Rouge disaster relief. Once again, our Charity Miles community proved that we are up to the challenge when it comes to supporting an amazing cause! 

We wanted to take this moment to thank all of you and announce that our community was able to move over 10,000 5Ks in September! Your hard work resulted in an additional $10,000 donation to support the flood relief efforts. An astounding 12,052 Carry the Baton badges were earned last month, and it warmed our hearts to see you share your badges with friends and family!

 We know that Every Mile Matters. The Carry the Baton campaign mattered to the community of Baton Rouge, including members of our own Charity Miles family. This week we received a message from one of our members Kayla, whose family home was destroyed by the Louisiana floods. 

Kayla’s parents’ home was flooded and many of their possessions were destroyed. Without basic necessities or even a roof over their heads, the couple has had to rely on shelters and the kindness of friends. Even those that have never experienced food insecurity are struggling, putting an even greater strain on community resources. Kayla says “I can tell you now that with no fridge (or home) they have been relying almost solely on the donated food, while they figure it all out.” 

It’s families like Kayla’s who will benefit from the $10,000 donation that our community was able to earn. Thank you to our sponsors Humana who helped us move more money to where it’s needed most, and for helping our community raise awareness about the devastating impact of food insecurity in Louisiana. Most importantly thank you to the Charity Miles family for proving once again that when we pull together we can move in amazing ways!

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Charity Miles Adventurers Marissa Howard

I did it! I finished my thru-hike this morning in Harper's Ferry!!!  

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Charity Miles Team Spotlight

Last month we highlighted Charity Miles Champion Eric Rubinson, co-founder of Track Friday, a national movement to turn the day after Thanksgiving into a day focused on giving and not just getting. Track Friday started in 2012 as a local event to support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts in New Jersey, but has grown into a national movement that has spread to over 21 states and generated over $110,000 for 80+ charities.

Eric has been running 100 miles a month, each month for a different Charity Miles charity partner, to promote the movement and encourage more people to get moving for a cause they care about. This year, participants in the movement are encouraged to use the Charity Miles app to increase their individual impact while connecting with others and bringing the movement to new locations.

Using the Charity Miles app to participate in Track Friday is simple. Just join the team “TrackFriday”, and then make sure to turn on the app on Track Friday – November 25th 2016 – supporting any of our charity partners. We’ll be “tracking” participation of our Charity Miles community to measure our national impact! To make being a part of the Track Friday team a little more fun in the weeks leading up to Track Friday, Eric and the Track Friday team are issuing a “Every Friday” Challenge  for Track Friday.  

Simply join the team “TrackFriday” and log at least one-quarter mile – symbolic of one lap of a typical track – every Friday starting October 7th  and until November 25th. You can support any of our charity partners! Participants that complete the “Every Friday” Challenge will receive a badge via email after November 18th, so that it can be shared in the week leading up to Track Friday 2016. 

We encourage you to share the badge on social media to celebrate your accomplishment while spreading the word about the movement.In addition to using Charity Miles, Track Friday is encouraging their participants are encouraged to make a donation to any charity on the Track Friday national team page hosted by Razoo (https://www.razoo.com/team/Trackfriday2016) and create their own fundraiser if you wish to raise more money or donate to a cause that is not already listed.  It’s all about doing what you can to make a difference!

Head over to www.trackfriday.org  or Facebook (facebook.com/trackfriday) to learn more about participating, to find meet-up locations, and to connect with other participants.

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Charity Miles Champion Elizabeth Gonzales

I first started running to get back in shape. After 10 over-scheduled years in DC, I needed to take a break from the happy hours, brunches, and drinking that filled my social calendar. But running soon became a time during which I could experience true solitude in a city of over 600,000. Running (and racing) has taught me how to set a goal and achieve it, as well as test my self-discipline, patience, persistence, and strength, both physically and mentally.

The George Washington Parkway Classic was the first of many races during which I began to experience the “runner’s high.” Some people get a runner’s high when they are actually running, but for me, my runner’s high begins at the start of a race. As one athlete in thousands who are there with one reason and one reason alone: To run. The atmosphere is intoxicating and addicting. I’ve since run the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Miler, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, the Nike Women’s Half Marathon and the Marine Corp Marathon 10K. And as one of those go-getter, Type-A personalities, I began to fill up my calendar with other athletic activities. I’ve joined multiple volleyball leagues and as a longtime lover of football (I’m an unabashed fan of the Washington Redskins), I joined a co-ed competitive flag football league. 

Three years ago, a colleague approached me about Blondes vs Brunettes (BvB) Washington D.C., a non-profit organization that raises money for the Alzheimer’s Association through a football game. I jumped at the chance to join due to the fact that my grandfather, Glen Leonard, or Pa-Pa, a WWII Veteran, passed away from Alzheimer’s when I was a child. I’ve since been a member of Team Blonde, and play in honor of Pa-Pa and for all those who have felt the impact of this horrific disease.In 2015, I decided I wasn’t nearly busy enough. (I had sports 5 days a week after all…so much free time!) I decided to up my game and start running marathons. I was honored to run the 2015 Marine Corp Marathon (MCM) and proudly celebrated the courage and commitment of the Marines who serve on behalf of the U.S.My success in finishing MCM encouraged to keep running and take a giant leap (over the Atlantic Ocean) and run the 2016 Islandsbanki Reykjavik Marathon using Charity Miles to log my training runs. During the race, knowing I was raising funds on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association through Charity Miles kept me going during every difficult step and every never-ending mile.  

As I embark on another season of BvB and prepare for my third marathon (MCM 2017) I’m proud to log my Charity Miles knowing I’m not just running for myself but for all those individuals who have been touched by Alzheimer’s. Join our team at BvBDC in the Charity Miles app, and help us in our fight against Alzheimer’s!