Running for Mothers

Hello everyone!! I have been waiting for this moment for months and months.  I am extremely excited to announce that I will be part of the pilot Running Ambassador program for Every Mother Counts (EMC)!

For those of you who know me, you’ll know this is a perfect marriage of two of my loves: running and public health. So what does this mean for us?

• Me: Identify a local running event, a 5k or 10k, or even a half marathon, and ensure I can create a team of runners
• You: Register for the race, join the team, tell your friends about it, thereby raising awareness, and hopefully, raise funds
• Me: Lead group runs, provide training plans if needed
• You: Be awesome and support Every Mother Counts!
• Us: Create a running revolution and make a united impact as a team!

If you are interested in running with me for Every Mother Counts, let me know! 

Maternal mortality is not an epidemic only in developing nations, the United States’ ranking is 60, (1 being the lowest rate). These deaths are preventable, making this a human rights issue. Bringing more awareness and education to the forefront is part of the solution. In the US, EMC is part of initiatives to increase prenatal education in certain underserved areas of Florida. Among its many programs across the world, EMC is working with local health partners in Haiti to educate women to become full birth attendants and midwives, thereby reducing the need to always have a physician, who may or may not be in the village, or even the next one over.

Here’s a little background on EMC, and read why this is important to me here.

How did EMC start?

Every Mother Counts started as a campaign to raise awareness about maternal health. The original goal was to reach as many people as possible with EMC founder Christy Turlington Burns’ documentary film, No Woman, No Cry. Invariably, people who saw the film wanted to get involved. EMC evolved from a campaign into a 501c3 organization in 2012 that harnesses that enthusiasm and matches individuals with ways to engage meaningfully in improving maternal health.

**If you are interested in hosting a viewing of this film, please contact me!**

What does running have to do with maternal health?

We use marathons as fundraising/awareness raising opportunities because marathon distances (5K, 10K, 26.2 miles) are great metaphors for the average distances women in many developing countries have to travel, usually on foot, to reach basic and emergency healthcare during pregnancy and labor. Many times, distance and lack of transportation prevent women from reaching lifesaving care in time to save their lives.EMC began by fielding a team of 10 runners to participate in the NY marathon to raise funds and awareness and have since grown to the point where in 2013 we had 37,425 individuals run for EMC. No need to run a full marathon. EMC supporters walk and run 5ks, half marathons and many support EMC through their daily workouts. Runners, walkers and bikers can download CharityMiles on their smart phones and earn 15 to 25 cents/mile every time they exercise.