Dear Friends,

I have most definitely entered my midlife crisis, there is no other explanation I can fathom for starting to run marathons at age 41. Probably, a Porsche cabriolet is next, some bungee jumping, and a holiday at Everest base camp. Well, well....

I am honored to be one of 20 runners the New York Asian Women's Center (NYAWC) has recruited to participate in the ING NYC Marathon on November 6, 2011. All of us have taken on the challenge of running 26.2 miles (that would be 42.195 km) and fundraising at least $2,500 in support of the NYAWC's life saving programs. With your help, I hope to exceed that target!

Will I be able to complete the challenge? Running for NYWAC is a great incentive, supporting an organization that I feel passionate about, given my time in Japan and family connections. Some practice will help, too. The first hurdle was the Hamburg marathon on May 22, my first one ever, which I completed in 4:48:50 (with 2:11 for the first half, a rookie mistake in starting off too fast ;-) ). San Francisco will follow on July 31. Follow me on twitter @norbertgehrke to see my progress. 

Please feel free to offer further incentives. Nothing would motivate me more to train harder than (for example) an additional 1 dollar in donation for every minute under 4:30! You might also want to consider that at 220 pounds/100 kilograms, I am likely moving around 50-100 pounds more than my fellow runners - wouldn't that be worth another ten cents per pound? Please give generously for this good cause! Lastly, please do not forget to use your company's matching gift program if available!

Best regards,
Norbert

About NYAWC

NYAWC helps women (and their children) recover from domestic violence and human trafficking. Our services are tailored to Asian women's cultural, social, economic, and legal circumstances. We offer shelter, counseling, legal assistance, children and teenage programs, assistance with obtaining education, housing, and work. Ultimately, NYAWC shelters women from harm, teaches practical skills and gives back their self-respect and hope for the future.

Our multilingual hotline provides assistance in more than 12 languages. As the largest Pan-Asian domestic violence and human trafficking agency in the country, NYAWC helps over 600 women and children a year.

NYAWC programs and services are cutting edge. We work with a local healthcare provider to better identify and serve Asian domestic violence survivors. We are the only organization that received funding from the Mayor’s Office to serve human trafficking survivors. Our digital art therapy program uses modern technology to engage and assist teens. Our grassroots community education and domestic violence prevention campaign works to foster attitudinal change about domestic violence and engage in a community-wide movement to stop abusive behavior.