Hey Everyone!

This year I am running 26.2 miles to complete the Boston Marathon. I am running through the Harvard Marathon Challenge, a charity group organized through Harvard. I am extremely excited to be running the marathon and for the organization that I am raising money for the Philips Brooks House Association (PBHA). PBHA is the umbrella organization for all community service activites at Harvard. From my first day on campus, as part of a preorinetation program called the First -year Urban Program, I have been amazingly impressed with the dedication and success of PBHA based programs. My preorientation program made all the differences in my transition to Harvard, and I am so thankful for all that I learned that week and how much it inspired me to work to promote equal justice.

I am currently involved in teaching ESL to Chinatown residences weekly through a PBHA organization and can already see how much it means to my students. Countless friends of mine are involved in other activites, from mentoring teenagers to tutoring children in English, all of whom can see how these programs are not only necessary, but are helping these communities.

PBHA is not just about amazing programs, which do so much in the communities, but also about facilitating dicussions, bringing a wide variety of speakers to campus, and reminding the student body of the world outside of the yard. PBHA plays a large role in creating the environment that my friends and I will call home for the next four years.

Please support me in my running to raise money for PBHA. Every little bit helps and will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too! For more information about my charity, please visit the Harvard College Marathon Challenge website. 

Best, 

Lillian 

PS I am going to try to send out biweekly status reports on my training progress, so look forward to those!