we're going to ethopia! // get set, let's go!

That's right, my friends! You, me and all 67 beautiful, wonderful people who donated to my charity : water campaign are riding our dollars all the way to Ethiopia, where they're digging
well loved // one tri : one well!

I was so excited to receive an email last week, detailing the campaign's progress. In 18 months a town in Ethiopia will have clean water for the first time, and will hang up their jerry cans filled with dirty water forever. Yes - forever.

I was overwhelmed when we reached $5,000 and now I am even happier as I watch the real action begin to take place. I can only imagine how I will feel when the well is complete - all thanks to your amazing support. I will be sure to update you on progress. :) thank you!

Appropriately enough, today charity : water launched its holiday campaign. And it's ahhmazinggg. Watch it below - I've already played it a bajillion times/am just listening to it on repeat.

Are you ready?
Get set, let's go!

images - some from Ethiopia!

what shall we call you?

Last month, I updated you on my one tri: one well campaign for charity: water, where, together, we raised $5,841. And now, I am so excited to fill you in on the next steps.

The funds have been distributed, and during the course of the next 18 months, they'll begin digging the well. Once it is complete, they'll send me a report, with photos, village information and GPS coordinates for where the well is located. Check out an example of these details here. I can't wait to Google earth the coordinates!

But before any of that happens, I have to name the well. And I wouldn't feel right doing it without your help. Obviously.

Below are a few ideas I have. Be sure to vote, or, if you have something better, leave it as a comment. It just has to be 50 characters or less, including spaces. I'm not sure I am sold on any of them yet, so I am certainly open to suggestions.

And thank you - in advance - for the great ideas I know will flow like water from your minds.

charity: water well name

Also - check out this amazing video about charity: water's latest well. I watched it. And I cried.

ATL Hold It Down

I've expressed before that I have an irrational, and yet very real, fear that I am ungrateful. And this past weekend, my fear skyrocketed with the culmination of three projects.

First, I completed my triathlon. I was blown away by how supportive my friends&family were - from texts to wall posts and everything in between, it felt so wonderful to know that people were supporting me during the race.

With the tri came the end of my campaign, one tri: one well for charity:water. Eee! I was so nervous to try to raise $2,500, and you all ended up donating more than $5,000. Instead of funding half of a well, we've funded an entire well for a village. A village will have water forever! Can you believe it!? I can't. I'm so so appreciative of your support, and when I started losing steam during the tri, I thought of all of those kids that walk miles&miles every day carrying buckets of water. And I knew I could do it for them. Thank you for motivating me!

And finally, Cheers for Children was Saturday night. I am so very grateful to everyone who attended! I was blown away by how supportive my friends were. To have you all there was absolutely amazing and I really, really appreciate you supporting the cause.

 

Whew. Quite a weekend. THANK YOU!

neighbor, maybor!

Remember Tuesday when we rejoiced&embraced May? Yaay! And with all those wonderful things it brings, it also means we are now officially in the triathalon neighbor month. Ah! My tri is right.next.door. We are touching it!

With your help, I've raised more than $2,000 (YAAY! and thank you!), with 101 people served. This makes my heart so happy. I like to think of the water going to lots of little babies and kids mainly. With just $461 to go, I'm feeling confident we'll hit the $2,500 mark. (!).

I am slightly less confident in my biking skills, but I'm going for a ride on my lunch today. Let's hope I'll be pleasantly surprised. I'll be sure to report back.

image

$500. Let's Do This.

It's a double post kind of day, because I just received a HUGELY generous donation to my charity : water well. For the next $500 I raise, my dad will match $6 for every $1 donated. This means that if you donate $20, he'll donate $120, and instead of serving one person with your donation, we'll be able to serve seven.

I.am.ecstatic.

He is the best!

Every day things get me really, really excited. But that normal, day to day happiness has been completely blown away by the incredibly generous donations of my friends and family during the last few weeks. Yes, when XXX happens at work, or in my personal life, it's great. But being supported and wrapped in love by all of you, and being able to give that love to those in need, is so much more fulfilling.

I really cannot begin to express how excited I am, and would greatly appreciate your continued support. I'm at $1,704 now, so until we hit $2,204, Dave's matching program has officially begun. Let's go! :)

THANK YOU DAD!!!! I love you!

image

The Water Project: by Mrs. Gentry

The support I've received for my triathlon has been completely overwhelming, to the point that I have had moments where I just want to cry with happiness.

Yesterday, I experienced this feeling when my dear, dear friend Megan informed me that her elementary class was doing an entrepreneur project, where they each start their own businesses, and will be donating their proceeds to my well. From hearing her talk about how they're worried about the kids who have to walk four hours to get water, to them asking if it would be OK if they donate all of their money (as opposed to the recommended 50 percent), my heart is overflowing. I had goosebumps when she told me about their excitement. 

I am so grateful to have her support, as well as all of yours. It's a lifelong fear of mine that I can't adequately express gratitude, and this campaign has me in overdrive, but I hope you all know how truly thankful I am. I am so excited about the upcoming weeks, and want to reiterate that I am truly, incredibly grateful for your continued support. 

I cannot wait to see all of the amazing projects Mrs. Gentry's class delivers and will be sure to keep you posted on their progress. Check out photos from the project below - they'll make your heart melt!

Thank you again!

two to go!

Rentry! Whoah! Back to life after a week of beach bliss (pictures tomorrow).

Reality hit this morning, not only in my email inbox (!), but also when I realized there are only two months until my triathalon. Eeep! Time to lock it down on training and fundraising.

So far, you've helped me raise enough money to provide 16 people with clean drinking water. I can't thank you enough. I've felt so supported both financially, and by people sharing the link. I once heard that the feeling you get when you're mentioned on Facebook and Twitter is equivalent to a warm, fuzzy. Quadruple that feeling - and that's how I've felt anytime someone has donated and/or shared my link. It makes me all buzzy and puts pep in my step.

Without being obnoxious, I'd like to ask that you continue to support me throughout the next two months. Again, if you can't provide financially, please feel free to pass on my link to those who can. Thank you again - I truly appreciate it!

My well: http://www.mycharitywater.org/p/campaign?campaign_id=25106

image one and two

one tri: one well

As someone who has a lot of obsessions (see here, here and here), I realize my words might lose their oomph when I get to raving.  

But, if you know me, you know that one of my greatest obsessions in life is water.

Good, clean, h2izzo.

I recently went on a date and he asked me if I'm one of those people that carries a water bottle around everywhere they go. To which I said: No. I am not one of those people; I am that person.

To say it's an obsession would be an understatement I'm not comfortable making.

That being said, one of my favorite charities, which I discovered through the one and only Courtney, is charity: water. When she was on the Mercy Ship, Scott Harrison, the founder, was there as well. After leaving the ship, he started the charity, and the rest is history.

This year, in an effort to combine three of my favorite things (water + courtney + working out), I've decided to dedicate my triathlon to building a well.

The cost of one well is $5,000, and I hope to take a good chunk out of that through fundraising. Feel free to check out my campaign. I'd would love your support, if you feel compelled to do so. 

If everyone that reads my blog on an average day gives $13, it'd be more than enough to cover the cost. However, I certainly realize that money is really tight right now, and $13 is a lot of money to a kid like me. So, if you want to provide support, I'd love for you to pass along the link to my well, so others who relate to my passion for the cause can share the love. The thought of giving clean water to kids who walk miles to find dirty water every day warms my heart, and I know it'll keep me going during the race.

Thank you in advance for your help! I truly, truly appreciate it.

PS: Looking to get inspired? Watch charity: water's fifth birthday video below. It'll make you want to tri, too!

images and video via charity: water

Good news Thursday!

You guyyyyss. I officially have a bike. And picked a triathlon.

I know. I barely believe it myself.

It felt so good checking both of those items off approximately 37 to do lists. And now begins the training! Whoosh!

image