Huff and Puff

Running… ok, ok, barely walking, up that last hill before completing my nine mile long run outing had me huffing and puffing like the crazy wolf in the children’s story. Yes. I have lost weight. Yes. I am getting my running legs back. Yes. I even work out at the gym (well, when it rains…sometimes) But do you think my time improves (meaning speed). Nope. What the heck is it with getting older and slowing down? Just because 40 is behind me, (ok 50) (…alright, 60) doesn’t mean the body has to go slower, does it? At my present pace the street sweepers will cross the finish line before I do.

I know. Patience. Perseverance. Discipline. And race day (June 2) will see me fly! In some ways, that has been the experience this last year of Ken Brookens as he has explored and explained and engaged a wide variety of sources in Thailand to serve at-risk and orphaned children in a responsible and sustainable way.

Students from Chiang Mai, Thailand

Exploring the opportunities (of lack of) for education for youth in Thailand can be quite discouraging. For thousands of at-risk children in rural areas, the opportunity for an education beyond eighth grade is minimal and the opportunity to pursue higher education is practically non-existent. More likely their future is one of human slavery, prostitution, unskilled hard labor, early teen pregnancy, subsistence living, and an early death. The cycle of poverty goes on and on and on… Encouraging youth to learn; providing an incentive to stay in school; offering a scholarship for higher education; all break the cycle of poverty, changes the life of a child forever, ultimately changes the living conditions of the family, and lastly, gives back to the community a leader who influences the whole village for good. Ken has seen this miracle at work in the lives of youth in Thailand and is committed to making it a reality for more.

Explaining his passion and mission to school principals, government officials, community leaders, and business professionals has taken Ken into Ministry offices in Bangkok, welfare schools in Chiang Mai, legal offices and cafes and hotels and stores everywhere in between. All that explaining has made Sustainable Hope International a government recognized NGO in Thailand. All that explaining has generated excitement, commitment, anticipation, and opportunity in Chiang Mai, Chiang Dao, and Khon Kaen. All that explaining has opened doors in Independence and Jackson County.

Sustainable Hope International has engaged the services of professionals and volunteers in churches, service organizations, community groups, and educational circles. Most importantly, Sustainable Hope has engaged the imaginations of children—hundreds of children--and encouraged them to dream and reach and excel.

My early morning running team in Chiang Mai.
It was already 100 degrees and I was the only one in shorts!

And to do all of that, there has been a lot of huffing and puffing. Not to blow houses down, but to build
up hopes and dreams in a sustainable way in the hearts of at-risk children and in the minds of those who work with orphaned children.

I will run the Hospital Hill Half Marathon, huffing and puffing up all seven hills, to raise funds for Sustainable Hope International. Join me. Partner with me by giving to the cause—the power—the miracle  of education in breaking the cycle of poverty in Thailand. Join me in supporting Sustainable Hope International.

Friendship and Causes

Ken Brookens, retired University professor, is someone I have admired for many years. He is a bundle of never-ending energy. Last year we were visiting with each other about our passions in life. I became intensely aware that Ken, who grew up as an "at risk" youth in the foster care system, felt a deep sense of gratitude for the grace and love and compassion of those in his life who had literally offered him life. Adopted by a loving family in his sophomore year of high school, Ken gained new meaning of belonging and connecting. He values love for others through service and the power of education in changing the lives of young people. His heart goes out to youth today who are labeled "at risk". With that simple focus, Ken and his wife Jean have created a 501-c3 not-for-profit corporation to literally change the lives of young people through education. Where? In Thailand, of all places. I asked him, "Why Thailand?"

Ken told me of his long association with Thai college students who attended the University of Missouri at Warrensburg. He shared stories of struggle and poverty, love and hope, and how education became a road out of extreme poverty for so many. Besides that... you have to start somewhere! Of course, Ken's dream is to see Sustainable Hope provide scholarships for "at risk" youth in countries from South America to Africa, Europe to Asia, and right here at home. Ken and Jean have spent their own retirement funds on trying to make a difference in the lives of young people in places like Chiang Mai and Khon Kean and Chiang Dao.

They should not be doing this alone! You and I can help.

So, I am going to run in the Hospital Hill Race on June 2, 2012. Help me help them by sponsoring me. Support their cause by giving a gift of $50.00 or more. http://www.sus-hope.org/get-involved/donate/

For the next two months I will be blogging about the work of Sustainable Hope, introducing you to some of the kids in Thailand, and of course, be accountable for my miserable attempts at having a consistent training schedule. I hope you will join me in this new adventure!

Knee-cracker

2009 February 11 Wednesday

Miles: 4.68

Time: 59:12

I am gonna call this the knee cracker run. I have been trying to spend time on the steps of the amphitheater at Yonsei University. Today I took cardiac hill up the backside of the Campus then rolled into the amphitheater. The music was on—love the iPod thing-- so I started up the steps. Up and down. Up and down Up and down. Finally giving up, I take off out the East Gate and then turn back through Severance Hospital. My legs turned to noodles. What happened? It’s a good thing I just walked Thursday. The legs were unforgiving.

Malawi--Running to end poverty, one child, one family, one village at a time.

In Malawi, a small country in southern Africa, there is no infrastructure here to process clean water from streams and creeks. And without sanitation systems, toilets, and plumbing the waste from people and animals in the forests eventually ends up in the water.

Chiwa was only 7, the oldest girl of the youngest four children, but strong enough to go to the creek everyday with other children from the village. She hoped to go to school this year, but then, who would get the family water? Her family needed it for washing, cooking, drinking. She was the one to go.

So four miles there and back, carrying the heavy water… Read more at http://www.outreach-international.org/site/PageServer?pagename=what_stories_family

Running to end poverty, one child, one family, one village at a time with Outreach International and a partner:

Market Run or Dodging Saturday afternoon shopping

2009 February 07 Saturday

Miles: 8.5

Time: 1:29.30

Have you ever tried to run around Mt. Ansan? I go through five university campuses, pass the Independence Gate, through Sinchon, the furniture mart, wedding shopping street, Ewha Fashion street and numerous neighborhood markets. This was my first run with the nifty new nanopod Kelly and john gave me for Christmas (sorry, kids, I keep forgetting to plug it in before taking off). WOW. Other than the techno disco music banging my head and keeping my feet moving while going up hill (nearly had a heart attack), this stuff is great! Jogging along with Willie, Allison, Beethoven, Aretha, the Nylons, yada, yada is its own natural high. Thanks, guys!

Run to the River

2009 February 04 Wednesday

Miles: 5.5

Time: 1:11:11

I take a straight shot out of Yonhi-dong going south through Donggyo-dong and Mangwon-dong to the Han River then run back upstream on the Hongjaecheon walking trails. The Gu government has done a wonderful job turning what had become polluted cesspools into vibrant running streams of mountain water through the heart of Seoul. This is my zone run. Relatively little traffic, well, except for the first two miles down to the river. Seoul is a great city for keeping a balance on overly-developed urban sprawl along with breath-taking vistas of natural wonder through their multiple mountain parks and flowing streams.

RUNNING FOR A CAUSE—Get Involved!

We all run for different reasons. The obvious and perhaps the most common reasons have to do with staying fit and creating a healthy balance in life.

Numerous non-profit organizations have developed training and fundraising programs around running events from the 5K to the marathon. Go to any major marathon and you'll see hundreds of runners along the course, supporting their favorite cause. All of these runners, and those associated with other programs or their own personal causes, have spent hours training and fundraising. Why do they do it?

Struggling through a training run or a race is nothing when compared to the challenges faced by those fighting illness, disease, or other hardships. Running for a cause can help put things in perspective.

The rewards for those who run for a cause are priceless: new friendships, a feeling of tremendous accomplishment in helping others, the thrill of crossing the finish line, and the new attitude about running (and life).

If you are interested in running for a cause, there are programs many different programs from which to choose. Some options are listed below. Each program is different, but the rewards of running for a cause are undoubtedly the same. Specific Causes:

AIDS / HIV - List of AIDS Walks (Various lengths)
Alzheimer's - Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk
Arthritis - Arthritis Foundation (5K and Marathon)
Asthma - American Lung Association Asthma Walk
Birth Defects - March of Dimes Walk America
Cancer - American Cancer Society (Relay for Life) The Cancer Council Australia (Relay for Life) Canadian Cancer Society (Relay for Life)
Diabetes - American Diabetes Association (5K)

Canadian Diabetes Association (Marathon)
Disabilities - Easter Seals Walk with Me
Down Syndrome - National Down Syndrome Society's Buddy Walk (1 mile)
Drunk Driving - MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) (5K Walk)
Heart Health - American Heart Association Heart Walk (5K)
Hospice - The National Hospice Foundation (Marathon or Half Marathon)
Hunger Relief - Cropwalk (Various lengths)
Kidney Disease - National Kidney Foundation Kidney Walk
Liver Disease - American Liver Foundation (Boston Marathon)
Lupus - Alliance for Lupus Research (Walk-a-thon)
Multiple Sclerosis - MS Society (5K and 3 Day)