Give a girl an education. She will do the rest.

Sponsor me for the NYC marathon and give girls in Africa a fighting chance at life! If you've made it this far, you're obviously a little bit interested, so thank you.

Camfed, the organization I'm running for, educates girls in rural Africa and helps them get jobs and start businesses after they graduate. They've helped more than 640,000 children in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana and Tanzania.

Ready to donate? Just click on the "Sponsor me now" link above

Not sure yet? Check out what a little bit of investment in a girl can do

Studies show that if a girl goes to school:

• Her income will increase by up to 25 percent
• She is three times less likely to be HIV-positive
• Her children will be 40 percent more likely to live beyond the age of five
• She will marry three years later, and have two fewer children

Girls' education is probably the single most effective way to alleviate poverty. Please give what you can -- it really goes a long way (say, 26.2 miles.)

Check out Camfed's web site for more about them and stories about some of the women they've helped.

Thanks so much for the help!

Sarosh