LIST OF CHARITIES BY DATE:
June 3rd: Saint Jude
June 2nd: Team PAWS Chicago
June 1st: Festival of Miles Athlete in Need
May 31st: Wigs for Kids
May 30th: One Love Foundation
May 30th: Dignity Period
May 29th: Dream Builders 4 Equity
May 29th: Lift for Life Gym
May 28th: Amazing Maasai Girls Project
May 27th: December 5th Fund
May 27th: Friends of Kids with Cancer
May 26th: Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri
May 25th: Pathways to Independence
May 25th: Trinity Lutheran Church Soulard
May 24th: DDX3X Foundation
May 24th: JRDF
May 23rd: Michael J Fox Foundation
May 22nd: No Kid Hungry
May 22nd: Peter and Paul Community Services
May 21st: Relay for Life
May 20th: Ronald McDonald House Charities
May 19th: World Medical Relief
May 18th: Welcome Neighbor
May 17th: Smile Train
May 17th: Give Kids a Smile
May 16th: Infant Loss Resources
May 15th: Scott Spouse Club
May 14th: HeartLight Center
May 13th: Endometriosis Research Center
May 12th: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
May 11th: Back on My Feet Baltimore
May 10th: Operation Spot STL
May 9th: Detroit Creativity Project
May 8th: American Heart Association
May 7th: Samaritan’s Purse
May 7th: Wapsi- Great Western Line Trail
May 6th: Planned Parenthood, Michigan Chapter
May 5th: Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition
May 4th: Alzheimer’s Association
May 3rd: Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Center of Illinois
May 2nd: A Seat at the Table STL
On May 1st, 2022, I ran my 49th state under three and a half hours in Providence, Rhode Island. The 3:30 benchmark is, admittedly, an unconventional one to track, but from what I can gather through the wealth of information on the internet and in my various running groups, I’ll be the first female to run all 50 states under this time. (And there is no record of any women running the states faster.)
As I gear up for my finish at Revel Rockies in Colorado, I’m reminded of how much this sport has given me over the past decade: Initially, it was a way for me to be active after the birth of our boys, and it allowed me to form close friendships with a group of incredible moms with young children while living in Michigan. It has been a healthy outlet for the excess of anxiety and nervous energy that I always seem to carry. More recently, running has allowed me to push myself– both mentally and physically—farther than I thought possible and has taught me that my limits do not have to be defined by my age, gender, or size. I have had the opportunity to travel to some of the most beautiful places in our country and have made so many amazing, funny, quirky friends along the way. Not a day goes by that I am not grateful for this gift and excited for our next adventure.
With all of this in mind, I wanted to cap off this round of state finishes with another fundraiser. For my 50 sub 4/ 50 BQ finish, I asked friends and family members to donate to a local charity here in Kirkwood that I supported. This time around, I’m doing the opposite: for my 50 sub 3:30 finish, I’d like to donate $50 per day to a charity that means something to a friend or family member. I’ll do this for 33 days (Because 50 sub 3:30. And 330 days was going to get a little too expensive.) I’ll keep a running list of the organizations that have been suggested and selected, and if anyone out there in cyberspace reads this and feels moved to make their own donation to one of these charities, even better.
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” – Muhammad Ali
Sadie's Fifty 