Hi Friends and Family, 

Thank you so much for taking a moment to look at my fundraising page!

It's been a blast to spend the past 7 months training to run a marathon with 4 other moms. We all have 3 kids and have had to work around nap schedules, preschool hours, and bus pick up times. We've run late at night, early in the morning (not-sustainable!), in snow, in rain, on the track, and on well-paved trails (we can't risk injuries!).  I've seen every one of the ladies work hard for something that's hard to come by: Fitness-with kids!!!  The significance of our training has been made even more meaningful by my friend Lauren and her husband Chris. Chris signed us up for the marathon so that we wouldn't be just running for each other and ourselves but for a great cause: ESPWA!

I am asking for donations to ESPWA, which is a wonderful program/ministry that provides much needed medical, spiritual, and economic support in a part of Haiti. This is a program that is dear to the heart of my friend, Chris Pfieffer. He has been devoting his time and energy to ESPWA for over a decade because he sees the difference that can be made there with a little help from us. ESPWA has a transparent ministry and it is volunteer run, you can check out their website http://espwa.com  

Did I mention that Espwa means "hope?" Cool!! It's definitely a worthy cause if you'd like to support people in need.  All donations are tax-deductable and you receive a tax receipt after donation. 

Every year, the Pittsburgh Marathon draws over 25,000 runners and the city comes alive with excitement and activity.  The Espwa Foundation is proud to field another round of relay teams this year. This is our sixth year participating as an organization, and this event has grown into one of our largest fundraisers. That's particularly exciting for us, because the more funds we raise each year, the more lives we can impact in Haiti.  We can't do this without our network of amazing supporters! 

The Espwa Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to impacting those in poverty in the Cap Haitien, Haiti region.  "Espwa" is the Haitian Creole word for "hope."  We believe it's all about relationships and that through long-term development, we can truly help our brothers and sisters in Haiti.  We don't just throw money at problems, or give handouts when they are not the appropriate type of intervention.  We assess situations, get to know those involved, and come up with strategies to achieve personal and professional growth.  In our project portfolio, we engage in medical relief by partnering with local physicians, and undertake development efforts across the spectrum: family support, clean water, farming, small business, pastoral support, and more.  Join our movement of hope in Haiti today!