Hi, friends!

Me? Running the New York City Marathon, one of the World Marathon Majors? I knowwww! :D

This idea started in November last year when I was walking around the city and saw people everywhere wearing those orange finisher ponchos, which looked more like capes and made them seem like superheroes. Different ages, different backgrounds, all looking tired but happy! I literally thought, “If they can do it, maybe I can too?” And right there, I told the person I was with, “I will run the marathon next year.”

I'm not really a runner tho. I like hiking, sure, but that is not the same thing. My running history is basically me as a kid racing with childhood friends, falling, getting wounds, then hiding them from my mom because I didn’t wanna get scolded. Very professional background lol

But I do like a challenge.

My tour of duty in New York ends next spring, so this is actually my last chance to run the NYC Marathon while living here. I was too late for the 9+1 program and the lottery was always a long shot. But, I also knew that if I was going to put myself through 42km of self-inflicted pain, I wanted it to mean something more. 

As most of you know, I was posted in Africa for three years. That's where I really grew to appreciate wildlife and the communities that live alongside it. So when I got a spot with Zambezi Elephant Fund (ZEF), it felt like things came together in the best way.

Elephants are not just cute, majestic giants. They matter to the ecosystem, to biodiversity, and to the people and places connected to them. ZEF works on the ground in Zimbabwe’s Zambezi Valley, supporting wildlife protection, rangers, communities, and the landscapes elephants need to survive.

I hope you’ll support my marathon journey and help me raise funds for the elephants. Any amount (minimum of 100usd charot hahahaha) would mean so much and will also emotionally force me to keep training. :D

Thank you! Salamat po! Or, as they say in Zimbabwe, Ndatenda!