I am blessed to be able to run the Catalina Marathon on St Patrick's Day, 2007 (which also happens to be James' 2nd birthday). Now, why would running 26.2 miles up mountains and trails be considered a blessing?

(You can see the map and associated elevation profile here: http://www.pacificsportsllc.com/images/Maps/CatMar/CatalinaMarMap.gif)

Well, In Africa, an entire generation is dying. Mothers. Fathers. Teachers. Farmers. Even pastors. Working men and women. Dead. 15 million children have been orphaned due to AIDS (That's around the same as the total number of high schoolstudents in the U.S.) 6,000 people die everyday of the disease. In addition, more than 29,000 children die daily, mostly due to preventable/treatable diseases and lack of clean water.

And yet I am healthy. I have a family and a stable job. I am blessed with a church, friends and family who have and will support me through anything. I could never have dreamed of blessings of this magnitude.

It would be an affront to our mighty Father to ignore this situation. It is certainly not hopeless. Not if people like us are willing to stand up and use their one life on earth to do something about it. I am therefore using this marathon as a chance to raise funds for World Vision, who need no introduction. Their work is dedicated to helping children and their communities reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. This is work that will have significant long term effects.

There are two simple ways that you can support my efforts:
1) Click the link in the text box below, and sponsor a child for $35 per month, OR
2) Click on the SPONSOR ME NOW button at the bottom of the page and make an online donation.

Thank you in advance for your support. May God continue to bless you and your family in 2007.

Iain