Thank you to all who attended Cindika! The event raised over $2000! The total raised (including checks not counted on Razoo and recurring donations) is now over $6,300!!!! Wow! Given my $100/mile goal, that puts me at about 60.5 miles into the bike - with another 51.5 to go on the bike and 26.2 on the run! :-D

Since I was turning 50 this year, I wanted to give myself a big challenge/adventure, and an ironman seemed just about right.

I've decided to combine this personal challenge with an opportunity to support a charity I care deeply about. The Africa Vulnerable Children Project.

In 2005 Living Compassion (livingcompassion.org) was introduced to Kantolomba compound, a slum on the outskirts of Ndola, Zambia. Kantolomba was a community of 8,000 adults and 3,000 children lacking in all basic services: no safe drinking water, medical care, employment, adequate housing, electricity, or schools.

When asked, “What would you do if you had money?” a resident replied “I’d feed the children. Many are not eating.” So, in August 2005, the project began feeding 40 children. In a few years that number grew to more than 650; plus, the children began going to school.

The project has expanded to include a new well to provide the clean drinking water; a community building which houses a medical center, a sewing cooperative, classrooms, and a gathering place for community support and connection; a school/food program which includes more children each year; a men’s cooperative; adult education programs; and support for micro-businesses.

Each change creates more possibilities for the people of Kantolomba to lift themselves out of poverty and become self-reliant.

It is its focus on building sustainable, community-inspired change that makes this project different from so many others. This is not some big organization throwing money at a problem; it is truly people helping people to create real change. I hope you will take the time to visit the project's website and see for yourself the unique nature of the project -- you can even read blogs of what is going on daily.

And I hope you will find it in your heart to support me in my goal of raising $14,060 ($100 per mile of my 140.6 mile ironman) toward this wonderful cause!

Thank you in advance! Helen