If you know me - you know I'm not a runner. 

But I chose to challenge myself this year, get out of my comfort zone, and signed up for the LA (half) Marathon and raise money while at it. 

As a new mom (my mini-me Bodhi in the photo with me!) and someone who would not be where I am today without my parents believing that I could do and be anything and investing in a good education for me - I know that through it all, it took perseverance, grit, stamina, being hopeful, working hard, showing up every day and believing you can do it. 

I'm running because it's a reminder that my journey in life is just like this marathon. It's not easy or ever ideal, my training won't be perfect, and there will be setbacks. But no matter what I have to get up and keep at it and believe that I can cross the finish line.

I'm running to show my son Bodhi that he can do anything he wants in life, he just has to put his mind to it.

I'm running in memory of my dad, who fought a hard battle with cancer and was, and still is, the strongest man I know. If he were here today, I know he'd be googling how to coach me, take me to buy my first pair of real running shoes, and go with me to the loop around the Silver Lake reservoir every weekend to help me get better at this running thing. I know he was and still is my number one cheerleader.

And, I'm raising money for CYLA because I strongly believe in the power and potential of young people, which is why I've made it my life's work to use my voice and energy to raise funds for organizations that make direct impact to students who need it the most. City Year's motto is: "Give a year, change the world." I started working for CYLA 10 months ago and am literally inspired every day by the young people who have committed to serving for one year as an 'AmeriCorps member' through City Year's program in public schools across our city. Every day, before the first bell rings and after the last kid leaves, they show up in their yellow jackets and uniform to help students in LA's highest-need communities as their tutors, mentors and role models.

They embody and teach those students perseverance, grit, stamina, hope, and the importance of working hard and showing up every day. I want to show our young leaders and the thousands of students that City Year serves that I believe in them too. And, I often say this to my colleagues - I wish I served as a corps member too!

Help me raise money for City Year Los Angeles as I run/crawl across the finish line of the LA Marathon on March 24th. Every donation counts. Thank you for your support!