Wednesday, June 16, 2010

For Yetbarek, and So Many Others

You heard about Yetbarek.  An idea that is percolating is to do something that I enjoy that can also honor Yetbarek's memory and assist other kids in the situation where he lived and died--a benefit run for Children's HopeChest.  What if we had a 5k on New Years Day (a run I have made as often as reasonably possible) where the bulk of the registration goes to support Children's HopeChest.  We can give out coffee mugs instead of shirts for the participants--a tactile reminder of why they ran--and people who agree to sponsor a kid for a year also will receive a fleece with the kid's name and HopeChest logo embroidered on the front.

An event like this could build awareness (as Karen Wistrom, the local sponsor coordinator is doing such a great job of--see family-from-afar.blogspot.com), as well as raise a bit of cash right away.  I believe that awareness and a concrete ability to respond are crucial.  Most people, when brought face-to-face with a need such as Children's HopeChest represents in Ehtiopia, will be inclined to do something to help.  If we can then give them a readily available outlet for their compassion, it serves everyone well.

Never having staged a race--or anything bigger than a couple of friends getting together to run at the same time, this may take some doing.  So I had better get on it.

Pressing on!

1 comment:

Hannah said...

I think this is an awesome idea! Sign me up :)