I don't run. And on September 27th, I'm running a 5K — please donate to my fundraiser for Venture Outdoors.
That's the honest starting point. I'm new to this, I'm not fast, and signing up was genuinely outside my comfort zone. I'm nervous about it. I'm doing it anyway to raise money for an organization I care deeply about.
My goal is $2,500, and I'm asking you to donate — $25, $50, $100, whatever you can. Every dollar goes to Venture Outdoors.
I serve on VO's board because they do something I believe in completely: they remove the things that keep people from getting outside — not owning gear, no way to get there, not seeing yourself as an "outdoors person." They hand you a kayak on the Allegheny, put 700+ kids a year through an Outdoor Learning Lab at low or no cost, and run about 800 outings a year for more than 25,000 people across this region.
Why now: public and institutional funding for the outdoors is less certain than it used to be, and individual giving is what keeps these programs on the water. This is a real moment for VO's future.
So here's my ask: click the donate button on this page and give whatever amount feels right. I'll handle the sweaty, uncomfortable part. If you can't give, share this page with one person who can, that helps too.
Thank you, truly. ~Laura
