I’m Jaclyn. And I’m running for Pakistan

Posted on 02. Sep, 2010 by Lutheran World Relief in Asia, Lutherans

This article originally appeared at Running for Pakistan; cross-posted here with permission of the author.

Backstory:

I’m a young married lady living in IL with my super cute husband. I like to paint with acrylics (oil is too slow!), drive in my new red car, cook up new exciting recipes with weird ingredients, and I can’t resist a good pun. I also like to run. I’ve always liked to run, but since I was a girl I was only a sprinter. I could only run the length of a soccer field so I spent my younger years scoring goals as a forward on a team called the Petticoats (the name only got embarrassing once I turned 10 and found out what exactly a petticoat was). I was fast. But, I couldn’t run for long. No endurance. Once I started Middle School I decided to drop sports in favor of band, saying goodbye to soccer and running. Fast forward (no pun intended) a dozen or so years.

My soccer days long behind me, I decide to run again. But, this time with a goal in mind: finish a 5K. My sister did it, so therefore I should be able to do it! I am the “big sister” after all.

During my training for the 5K, the floods happened in Pakistan. The Economist only just mentioned the disaster in a tiny paragraph in the “World This Week” section.  It hurt my heart to know 14 million are displaced because of the floods…and the worst may yet come with disease and hunger quickly approaching. Inspired by the quote from Teddy Roosevelt, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are,” I decided to do something. Now. I don’t have all the answers but I can run.  I have a treadmill.  Best of all, I live in America.  I don’t need all the answers, I have faith in Jesus who is the answer and will provide along the way according to his plan.

I’m running for Pakistan.

Join the run:

I ask you to pledge a donation per mile I run whether it is 10 cents per mile, $10 per mile, or $100 per mile.  The drive will last until September 18.  My goal is to run 10 miles per week (I’m only a beginner runner, have mercy!) for a total of 40 miles.  100% of donations will be given to Lutheran World Relief. Email me at runningforpakistan@gmail.com to inform me how much you are able to pledge.  That way I’ll be able to keep a running tally (pun again!) and have your email address so I can remind you to make good on your pledge to donate by Sept. 18th.

How to donate:

You can donate directly to Lutheran World Relief by clicking here. Make sure under “designation” you select “Pakistan Floods.”  In the section titled “This gift is in honor or memory of someone special” write in “runningforpakistan.wordpress.com” under the “In honor of” section to tell them why you donated!  I will update this blog with my progress towards my 40 mile goal and the amount of money pledged so far based on my progress.  At the end of the month I’ll remind everyone to make good on their pledge and complete their donation to Lutheran World Relief.

About Lutheran World Relief and their response to the crisis:

“LWR is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian response and advocacy.

So far, ACT members have delivered 70 tons of food to 500 households in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and are currently preparing to deliver another 630 additional tons of food for 4,500 households in these provinces as well as in Sindh. ACT members will also dispatch 2,500 tents to Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa later this week as well as deliver another 70 tons of food assistance to 500 flood affected families in the Allai District.

LWR is also partnering with International Relief and Development to send 3,300 quilts, 13,000 health kits and 1,500 layettes to help families displaced by the floods.”

Click here to see the source of information from Lutheran World Relief’s website.

Follow Jaclyn’s journey at RunningforPakistan.wordpress.com

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