Hey everyone! I hope you are all safe and well as our cities and states are re-opening. I have been so excited to get back out in my community and have been looking for safe, healthy ways to reconnect with people! Our girls in Tanzania are returning to their college and vocational classes/campuses this week armed with social distancing and healthy protocols. We are doing the same here in the U.S. – examining and redesigning the way we do things to ensure the health and safety of our volunteers, staff and the young women we serve. For the past five years an amazing group of volunteers, led by Dawn Hershberger and Joann Vice, created a premier race event in Northern California. Their hearts were broken for children who were being sold for sex. When they heard Courage Worldwide's mantra – do what you love to do for these kids – they came together as one in their community and created the Courage Triathlon; consistently raising over $20,000 each year to help rescue and restore victims of sex trafficking! This year the coronavirus has brought uncertainty to this race event. While we are most anxious to all be together, we also want to follow state guidelines, keeping everyone safe and healthy. We will continue monitoring the situation and will make decision on July 1st as to whether or not we will be able to hold the physical race.
What is a virtual race?
A virtual event is just like our traditional event but you do it wherever you are. You pick your start time and go! Our triathlon has been a run, bike ride and kayak race on site at one place. For the virtual 2.8 mile (4.5 km) run you can do it outside or inside. You can run, walk, hike or skip it! You can even do it on a treadmill. The same for the 7.1-mile (11.4 km) bike portion. You can ride on the street or a trail or inside on a stationary bike. For the water portion – you pick. Swim laps in a pool or in a lake for 1-mile (1.6 km) or you can kayak or paddle board for 4.1 (6.6 km) miles. You choose. You could do the entire race inside your gym! Wherever you want, whenever you want; alone or with whomever you want!
We look forward to sharing more information with you over the coming weeks! We are so excited for this event, and can't wait for you to join us. Thank you for your continual support and involvement with Courage. We couldn't do this without you!