Dear friends and family,

A little over a year ago I ran my first half-marathon, and promptly stated that I would never do it again.  When I got an email from the Courage Campaign a few months ago, I changed my mind.  I've always been a strong believer of equal rights for all (ask my parents, I am sure they can tell you some stories from when I was a kid) - in many ways I feel the fight for civil rights technically happened long before my time, but I can see that today this fight is far from over, and that’s why I am running with Team Courage to end discrimination against LGBT Americans.  The Courage Campaign works hard to change minds through education and training, constantly working towards a California where everyone has equal rights - where everyone has the right to marry whoever they want.  I’m running with Team Courage because I believe deeply in their work and their commitment.  I’m running with Team Courage because you don’t have to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender to support the organization or marriage equality for all.  I’m running with Team Courage because I want to help educate, and show my support publicly.  I’m running with Team Courage because I see no reason why my friends and neighbors can’t marry their life-partners and lovers (we all know its not because I want to go to more weddings!).  

This is the first year that the LA Marathon is doing a Two-person Charity Marathon - meaning that I’ll either be running the first or second half of the marathon (13.1 miles) and a partner will run the other half.   

Last week, a good friend single-handedly made a donation bringing me to my $1000 goal, and now I have a new goal.  Between now and race day (March 18, 2012) I plan to run a total of 95 training miles.  I’m not reaching for a monetary goal anymore, but a donor goal - 95 donations - of ANY denomination (yes, even $5 will go a long way to helping me reach my goal!), whatever you can afford and are willing to give.  I want to run each mile of my training program for you.  Please help support me while I train for my 13.1 mile segment of the LA Marathon!

Thanks in advance!

Love,

Carla