Something Different to Run For

I have never been a charity runner.

As someone who spent most of her life doing things to get the approval of others, or to impress them or to somehow fit in, I loved the thought that I ran purely for myself.

Running was for me, and only me.

But then this whole idea of a marathon moved from just thinking about it to planning it. Sure, it was delayed a year, but soon, I start training for the biggest endurance challenge I've ever sought. And about 6 months ago, I thought,

"Since this is a one time deal, why not fundraise?"

I considered the popular options: American Cancer Society, Team in Training, Girls on the Run ... but none of them seemed right for me.

Then, on September 22, 2012, a person I once considered a very close friend told me this:

"I'm a firm believer that there are a few girls out there somewhere who have been raped and actually enjoyed it a little bit."

At first, I swore this person was joking. But they weren't. They were dead serious. It suddenly became clear where I would want any money raised on my behalf to go: MOCSA - the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault, located right here in Kansas City. The work this organization does, from providing counseling services to education throughout the Kansas City area, is, in no exaggeration whatsoever, life-changing.

However, I was hesitant. Cancer and young girls' self-esteem are a much easier topic to discuss for most people. I worried and fretted that people wouldn't want to donate money to this cause, that they wouldn't want to think about the need for things like preventive education for young men and women or counseling for kids and adults who are victims of sexual assault. I worried that people would automatically assume things about me.

Then a small town along the Ohio-West Virginia border shot to into the public eye. Stubenville.
Listening to the news updates on NPR on this case made me cry; hearing the arguements made by those young men's attorney's angered me and I knew, without a doubt that this was what my marathon would raise money for: to educate our young men and women about sexual assault and sexual abuse. What it's really about (hint: it's not sex) and what it really looks like (hint: it's not always violent).

So here I am, declaring it for all to know:

I am running for MOCSA. I am running for those victims who are worried what people will assume about them, think about them, and say about them. I'm running for Jane Doe and her amazing courage to come forward and face all that she has faced. I'm running in the hope that one day, this won't be a taboo topic, that this won't be something that people want to not think about, that all the misconceptions about what sexual assault will be gone.

All money raised will be used for MOCSA's education programs.

To learn more, like my FB page: https://www.facebook.com/ElizsOneAndOnlyMarathon

To donate in my honor or on my behalf: MOCSA's online donation