Hey, everyone!

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Up thru my young adult years, I spent a lot of time walking in and working on the Walk for Mankind/Walk for Children. Somehow, as that event came to an end, so did my hope of really making a difference in the world. Watching my friends Kathryn and Jody create this event to provide clean water and education for kids in Zambia has helped me rekindle that hope.

Unfortunately, Zambia is stricken with one of the worst HIV and AIDS problems in Africa. With 16% of the population HIV positive and over 1,000,000 children already orphaned by AIDS, this struggling country is groaning under the weight of the AIDS pandemic.

I really never imagined I'd ever be doing another walk-a-thon, but here I am. Along with thousands of other people, I've made a commitment to walking 12 miles on Saturday, September 29, 2007. I'm doing this to help children and their families who have been affected by the HIV and AIDS crises in the African country of Zambia. I'm doing this so that children will have the opportunity to receive an education and the opportunity to drink fresh water.

This year, our goal is to raise money to build Siantete Basic School in the community of Twachiyanda, Zambia. The AIDS pandemic has hit Twachiyanda hard and children are in need of our help. I am also walking to help provide clean water for children and families throughout Zambia.

I am committed to walking the 12 miles, representative of what most children in Zambia (and throughout Africa) walk daily for the things we often take for granted. They walk to school, something they are so grateful for the opportunity to do! They walk to collect the water for their home twice daily, and in many cases the water is contaminated. We want to change this! We want to raise the funds necessary to make schools and fresh water accessible to all children living in Zambia, and in doing so, change the course of their future!

I'm nervous (it's one thing to walk 20 miles when you're a teen and a whole other thing to walk 12 when you're 40!) I'd be grateful if you would support me--and the kids in Zambia by making a tax-deductible donation on my web page. Donating is simple and completely secure. World Vision will use these gifts to build Siantete Basic School and help provide fresh water in Zambia. YOU can be the difference in a child's life and future!

Thank you!