On October 25, I’m going to attempt to climb the height of Mount Everest to raise money for Free to Run, and I need your help!

The event is 29029 Everesting: participants have 36 hours to climb 29029 ft – the height of Mount Everest – by doing multiple ascents of a mountain in North America. I’ll be at the Stratton, Vermont location, where it takes 17 ascents of Stratton Mountain to reach the equivalent height of Everest.

I have absolutely no idea if this will be possible for me but I’m training my heart out and intend to keep climbing until the time runs out. Participants receive a medal that corresponds with the highest of the Seven Summits they reach in 36 hours.

Why am I raising money for Free to Run and why should you donate? Free to Run’s mission is to advance gender equity globally through running. They do this by providing leadership and wellbeing programs, in conjunction with running experiences, for adolescent girls and young women in conflict areas like Iraq and Afghanistan. This is important and sometimes dangerous work. Free to Run participants are typically refugees, internally displaced people, and those who identify as ethnic minorities. The end goal is a shift in gender equality with a specific focus on the expansion of access to public space, and leadership opportunities for young women.

I feel enormously privileged to participate in an event like 29029 and I wanted to pick a charity that supports people who don't have access to that kind of opportunity. Running was such an essential part of my childhood, I can’t imagine growing up in a place where I could be attacked, or worse, for running outside just because I’m female.

I’ve set up my fundraising goals to match the height of each of the Seven Summits in metres, hoping to raise $1 (CND) for every metre climbed. My first fundraising goal is to reach Kosciuszko, the highest summit in Australia, by my birthday on September 15. Kosciuszko is 2,228 metres high, so I’m hoping to raise $2,228 ($1,653 USD). My stretch goal for the event is Kilimanjaro, which is the highest summit in Africa at 5,895 metres. This is also my overall fundraising goal for Free to Run this year: $5,895 ($4,375 USD). I’ll keep climbing until I physically can’t anymore, hoping to reach the height of Everest (8,850 metres / 29,029 ft) in 36 hours. Similarly, I’m going to keep raising funds for Free to Run for the rest of the year, hoping to ultimately reach $8,850 ($6,568 USD).

Thank you for your support!