Poverty in the USA?

Think poverty doesn't exist here in the United States?  Well, I wish that were true...unfortunately, even here in the United States, a place many might call the land of opportunity - poverty exists!  Check out this video that highlights the impact of poverty on children here in the US.

Are you out there?

What started as a simple blog to keep family and friends informed of my trip to Ghana, has grown.  It's come to reach almost 1200 people, from 10 countries, on 4 of the world's 7 continents.  Thank you everyone! 

If you've been reading along at all, you are probably wondering...well, what's the next goal!?!?! 

Well this week, I'm bringing the statistics a bit closer to home and extending my time to complete my goal.  This time, I will run until the goal is complete whether it takes me a week or a month!  My new goal is to run 25 miles.  Why is 25 miles significant you ask?

 

According to the US Census  25.4% of residents in the city of Albany, NY live in poverty.  This is almost twice the state and federal poverty rate.  Essentially, one in four people that you pass on the streets of the City of Albany do not have the financial means to live to their greatest potentials.

Goal Completed - 12 Miles for Access to Clean Drinkable Water

So, yesterday was an important day!  After a 2 mile bike ride and 2 mile run I completed 12 total miles of forward movement since Sunday.  Why is the number 12 so important you ask?  Well...let me explain!

A mere 12% of the world's population uses about 85% of the consumable water.  This means that for the other 88% of the population, the majority of which live in the developing nations of the Global South, there is limited access to clean water for daily survival. 

I ran 12 miles to encourage that 12% consuming the vast majority of the world's water, to share that water with the other 88% of our global brothers and sisters.  Consistent local access to clean water can, provide health benefits, opportunities for women and children to do other work including school work, and reduce gender disparities in work, school, and healthy developmental play. 

Next time you turn on the tap to fill a glass, consider making a donation to the organization of your choice that will secure access to safe clean water sources for those who don't already have that.  WATER IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE!

SURVIVAL CHALLENGE - I will not give up!

Today wasn't as bad as yesterday, and I have hope that it was worse than tomorrow will be.  I'm making some sort of daily progress.  Two miles of running and one mile of biking adds 3 more miles completed towards my goal for today.  So far 8 miles complete this week and only 4 more to go!!!  Woo hoo!!

Remember... only 12% of the world's population consumes 85% of its consumable water on average.  Moreover, that 12% lives in the small developed world, or as some call it, the Global North.  Let's encourage the 12% to share some of that life sustaining water with the other 88% who so direly need it.  ACCESS TO CLEAN DRINKABLE WATER IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE!

Check out this featured non-profit that wants to do something about this!
http://thewaterproject.org/clean-water-wells-in-africa.asp

SURVIVAL CHALLENGE - I NEED WATER!

Today was one of the hardest days of exercise I have ever completed.  It's becoming apparent what years of being overweight has done to my body.  My joints are giving way and my muscles are screaming, but I cannot...no, WILL NOT...give up!  Don't give up out there!  I'm standing tall and strong with you!  I realize that it is because I am so heavy at the top of me that the bottom of me feels like it is crushing under my weight, but in reality, it's not.  It hurts, I've screamed, pushed, and pulled through the pain, and ultimately in two days I have completed rounds and rounds of strength training and 5 miles of running.  That brings me to one of the most important points (beyond the lesson of just don't give up everyone), my goal for the week.  I am running for clean water this week!  Did you know...

A MERE 12% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION USES 85% OF OUR WORLD'S WATER CONSUMPTION.  IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS 12% DOES NOT LIVE IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE THIRD WORLD.

This week I will run 12 miles in order to encourage that 12% to think of ways to share our clean water supplies with the 88% who so direly need it.  Water saves lives!  Will you help us save a life today?

5 MILES COMPLETED, 7 MILES TO GO!

GOAL 1 SURVIVAL CHALLENGE - ACHIEVED!

With my 4 mile run from last night...I have officially hit over 11 miles since Saturday and met my first goal.  It wasn't easy, and especially last night I was in need of some inspiration.  My inspiration for the night was my mother.  She's a strong woman who commands the room, and despite many health challenges over the years, has always had a survival spirit.  Yesterday, I ran for my mother, but I also ran to raise more awareness about childhood mortality.  We MUST act now to offer life to children...did you know...

 

In 2003 over 10.6 million children perished before their 5th birthday. 

 



Let's help save a child! 

 

 

In completing my first running goal and raising awareness

about childhood mortality I also accomplished:

 

-Running 11.2 miles in 4 days

-Burned 1530 calories

 

SURVIVAL CHALLENGE - GOAL 1: CHILDHOOD MORTALITY

The survival challenge is all about setting personal running goals related to issues addressed by the Millennium Development Goals.  It's about raising awareness while I fight for my health and survival.  This week's key statistic that informs my personal running goal is:

10.6 MILLION CHILDREN IN 2003 DIED BEFORE THEY REACHED AGE 5!  

Help save our world's children!  Visit Community in Action for Self Help Projects and make a donation.
http://casp.bellstrike.com/members/theresa-taylor/hope-for-hohoe-community-in-action-for-self-help-projects

I will continue running until I have completed 10.6 miles.  So far between yesterday and today I have already run 7 miles...only 3.6 miles to go to raise awareness about childhood mortality!

From Poverty Challenge to Survival Challenge!

This week I decided on my next challenge.  I am aware that people all around the world fight to stay alive every day.  From the elderly woman trying to wake up from surgery in the United States to the child fighting to survive malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa, life each day is a fight.  Well it's time I fought.  It's time to fight for a healthier life for me and for others.  So...my new challenge is a running challenge.  So many things honestly, have come naturally to me...running is NOT one of them.  That's what makes this personal challenge so perfect.  I will make running goals based on statistics about the 8 Millennium Development goals.  While raising awareness...I'll be fighting for my life, building a healthier life, to offer awareness about the lives of others.  Cheer me on!  This will not be easy, but I'm ready for the CHALLENGE!  The all new SURVIVAL CHALLENGE.

My starting weight 1 year ago was 186lbs.  it is the heaviest I have EVER been.  My goal weight 120 lbs.  More than losing weight, I hope to raise awareness about the daily struggles in our world.  

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