This Sunday, the Netherland’s biggest annual run – the Dam tot Damloop - will be taking place and I will be among the registered thousands who will run 16.1km from Amsterdam to the nearby town of Zaandam (thus the event name). I have finished a full marathon before (42.1km) but what makes this run special for me is that I am running for a Dutch-founded charity this time around: the Stichting Anak Filippijnen (Anak Foundation Philippines). Anak Foundation helps impoverished children in the Philippines by giving them a chance at a better life through education (scholarships, training and workshops) in hopes that they themselves will break the cycle of poverty.
In addition to the run, I have also decided to raise funds for the foundation, with all proceeds going to charity. It has been an exciting time, seeing family, friends and even strangers, enthusiastically contributing.
You can still help by contributing via the Alvarum fundraising page or simply by spreading the word to others (thank you!). To all the contributors and would-be contributors, I will be thinking of you, all the way to the finish line.
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Update, 24 September 2012: We did it! Yesterday, I completed the Dam tot Damloop after an hour an a half, running at a pace of over 10km per hour. But a bigger achievement is the amount we raised together for Stichting Anak Filippijnen. With €625, we will be able to send two youths in the Philippines to university for a year. On behalf of Anak, I would like to thank you for your contributions.
