On August 10-11, Kristi Schelhaas (YZM USA Advisory Board) and Joelle Diepenbrock (Director of Communications) joined ten other runners in a 200-mile relay in support of Yezelalem Minch in Ethiopia!
Yezelalem Minch (“YZM”), one of our largest and longest-standing ministry partners, is an Ethiopian non-government organization that cares for orphaned and vulnerable children through a comprehensive, community-based program.
The “Fred 200 Mile Relay” consisted of 36 “spurs” or “legs” on the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail from Belmont, MI to Cadillac, MI and back. The team, dubbed “Barefoot Balls of Fire,” ran in honor of 36 children at YZM, one child for each race spur, continuing day and night until they completed all 200 miles.
After 37 hours of sweat, laughter, very little sleep, and admittedly a little bit of pain, they had raised roughly $7,000 in donations, pledges, and new child sponsorships!
I’m super tired, super proud, super humbled. It is through discomfort that we grow. I grew a lot!! And now I must sleep a lot.
– Kristi
Do you have a fundraising event or idea in mind in support of Yezelalem Minch, or any of our other ministry partners? We’d love to help you make it a success!