I finished my last "quality" workout on  Summit's track Wednesday morning, which was not exactly a confidence builder thanks to the wall of wind I hit each time I rounded the corner of the track and ran the back stretch.  But I figure what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.  I'm on cruise control from here on into the race on May 30th.

Heading over to South Africa has a duel meaning for me.  I want to be competitive in this race, but I'm also looking to raise awareness of a crisis that is unfolding in Africa, with the epicenter surrounding this hstoric race course.  What was a trickle of orphans in Africa in 2001, has now turned into a tidal wave.  By the end of 2010, it is projected that 2.1 million children will be orphaned by AIDS in the country of South Africa at the rate of 450 children a day.    Around this historic race course, 40% of the adult population has HIV.  An entire generation of adults is being wiped out, leaving children to raise children.  The term being used is "child headed households." Young children are taking care of their even younger siblings. These children are not going to school and are being forced to work, or worse, to just meet their basic needs of food, water and shelter.   Ninety percent of the children are not HIV positive - - they have the ability to bring their community and country out of this downward spiral, but they need a little help. 

The epicenter of this tragedy is KwaZula Natal, the region surrounding the Comrades race course.  Twenty five percent of the orphan population of South Africa is in this small region.  Knowing what I now know about the crisis, I could not run the race without doing something to help the children surrounding it.  After researching the issue and trying to figure out how to help (shoe drives, clothes drives, $$ drives), I decided to team up with a small charity, Starfish Greathearts Foundation www.starfishcharity.org to select a specific community along the race course, and try to support the children.  The community is Chesterville, and the project I am attempting to fund is Vukukhayne - which means "Arise and Shine" in Zulu.  The project supports 287 children by giving them food parcels, school uniforms, day care for younger children and after school care for all children.  It puts in place a foundation from which the children can thrive to stay in school and one day become productive citizens of their community.  It's through education that these children can help save their community and their country. 

To date, I've raised about half of what it will take to fund Vukukhayne.  Any prize money I win from this race will stay in Africa to support the children of Chesterville.  If anyone reading this is fortunate enough to be able to donate any amount, that can be done here: www.firstgiving.com/tnf_comrades_starfish.  Money goes a long way in Africa, so maybe instead of the coffee this morning or beer tonight, think about drinking some water and supporting Vukukhayne.  Thanks to the wonder people who have already donated and to the great employees of Deschutes Brewery who pulled together to make a substantial donation.  It all counts.