Sports and running hold a very special place in my heart, and I can confidently say that having the privilege to be a part of teams and clubs from a young age has vastly impacted the person I am today. Through skiing, running, kayaking, and more, I have found a sense of community, purpose, and confidence.

So many women around the world aren’t free to run. At best, a female runner may feel anxiety or fear running in a certain neighborhood or at certain times in the day. For others, running outdoors is prohibited by their government or severely restricted by society.

This year, and hopefully for many years to come, I will be running the age I will be turning in kilometers on my birthday to raise money and awareness for Free to Run: an organization who’s mission is to advance gender equality globally through running.

“Free to Run’s mission is to advance gender equity globally through running. We do this by providing leadership and well-being programs for girls and young women in conflict areas, in conjunction with running experiences. We typically work with refugees, internally displaced people, and girls and young women who identify as ethnic minorities. While we work closely with individuals, we are working to drive change in community gender norms and towards a systematic shift in gender equality, with a specific focus on the expansion of access to public space and leadership opportunities for girls and young women.”

I truly believe running and sports act as an outlet for personal growth, confidence, reducing stress and anxiety and much more. Running should be a right not a privilege and I am incredibly moved by Free to Run’s mission to create positive change in the lives of thousands of young women and girls living in regions of conflict through physical activity.

“Conflicts can have a devastating impact on societies, causing suffering on a widespread scale. Women and girls are often disproportionately affected, and the particular ways in which their rights are restricted are often overlooked. Their invisibility from society is as much of a symptom of discrimination as it is a cause.”

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you'll join me in supporting this cause whether it's by donating, joining me on a part of my run on June 10th, or simply reading more about these important organizations and issues.