Jane’s Quest: $10K for 50K

September 2010 Update

After 6 months of training and over 750 miles of training, Jane successfully completed her first ultra marathon 50K run (31 miles) on 5 September. She ended the run with a smile on her face and with enthusiastic JWOC support at the finish line. Jane thanks global friends and family for the financial and emotional support which enabled her to raise over $11.2K for 5+ JWOC scholarships.

Educating Cambodian and Southeast Asian Students One Step at a Time

I have a goal of raising $10,000 for Journeys Within Our Community (JWOC). On 5 September 2010, I will run my first 50K ultra marathon (or 31 miles for the metrically challenged like me) as a fundraiser for JWOC's university scholarship program. The ability to attend university and achieve a higher education is well beyond the reach of most students in Cambodia and in Southeast Asia, even if they are able to graduate from high school. Some attempt to make it happen by using family savings or borrowing from relatives for their first year, but as many of these students struggle to make enough money for food and housing they eventually are forced to leave as the expenses become too great. Considering that tuition for one year of university only costs $500 this can be hard to believe, yet in countries where the average annual family income is in the range of $400, this reflects the reality faced by most students. My fundraising target of $10,000 will fund five, 4-year university scholarships for deserving students in Cambodia and in other Southeast Asian countries. Together through our donations we can change the lives of Cambodian and Southeast Asian students by helping them achieve their dream of a university education.

To Donate: JWOC is recognized is a US 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. You can donate online or by check by doing one of the following and due to the academic calendar, please consider making your donation by July 31, 2010.

* To make a secure online donations go to the online donation link, please add in the purpose section that your donation is for 'Scholarships: $10K for Jane's 50K'.

* To send a check, download, complete the contribution form and send it with your check to: Journeys Within Our Community, 11200 Donner Pass Road, #256, Truckee, CA 96161, USA. Indicate in the contribution form comments section and in check memo that your donation is for 'Scholarships: $10K for Jane's 50K'.

If you are not able to make a donation at this time, please take this opportunity to learn more about JWOC by clicking on their website link and/or becoming a friend of JWOC on Facebook. I will periodically send you updates regarding my 50K training and fund raising progress. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers on 5 Sep, race day; my goal is to finish the race injury free and with a huge smile on my face knowing that together, we will make a lasting impact on the lives of many.

If you have any questions about JWOC or my fundraising effort, contact me at jane.price@gmail.com Thank you so much for your support. Jane

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela

Background

JWOC: JWOC, is recognized as a tax exempt organization under 501(c)3 of the US Internal Revenue Service tax code. Andrea and Brandon Ross started Journey's Within tour company and B&B in 2003, and in 2005 they established the non-profit organization, JWOC, in response to the significant needs they experienced in Cambodia and throughout Southeast Asia. In the last 5 years, JWOC has grown and has scholarship students in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. There are now three JWOC Free Schools in Cambodia and Laos offering classes for children and adults. They have installed over 300 wells offering clean water to villagers in Cambodia and Laos. JWOC has also given out over 250 micro loans to families living below the poverty line.

JWOC selects scholarship students based on need and motivation to serve their own community. Each scholarship student volunteers 5-10 hours each week in support of different JWOC community programs. These programs range from micro loans given to very small businesses, clean water projects providing villages wells and water filters and free education classes.

Jane's involvement with JWOC: I travelled to Siem Reap, Cambodia in December 2007 to run the Angkor Wat Half Marathon. While in Siem Reap, I stayed at the Journey's Within Bed and Breakfast run by Andrea and Brandon Ross. I learned about their non-profit organization, JWOC, and that one could fund a 4-year university education for a deserving student for $2000, or $500 per year. For the last 3 years, I have sponsored a bright and motivated young Cambodian student who will soon graduate with her degree in Education.

This May, I spent the month in Siem Reap volunteering for JWOC. My volunteer work included: life coaching for soon-to-graduate scholarship students and JWOC local staff, consulting for the microloan program and teaching several 'how to' seminars. Volunteering in Siem Reap gave me the opportunity to meet JWOC staff and students, see their various programs in operation and to see the significant positive impact these programs have on the lives of so many.

The scholarship students I worked with were typically from below the poverty line rural farming families. The students left their homes coming to the 'big city' of Siem Reap to work and further their education. Most of the scholarship students I met work, go to university full-time, volunteer 5-10 hours per week at JWOC and provide support to their families back in their home provinces. Despite having faced significant hardship and challenge, the students are optimistic and future-oriented. They are hard working, motivated and appreciate the chance to better themselves, their families and their communities.

While JWOC offers a variety of worthy programs, my focus is supporting their university scholarship effort. I strongly believe in the role of education in making a long term impact to improve the lives of students and their communities. From a personal standpoint I know firsthand the impact a scholarship can have on one's life as I was the beneficiary of scholarships and grants when I was a university student; these generous gifts allowed me to further my education and improve my life in profound ways.

Jane's running career

I love running for so many reasons: being in nature, setting and achieving goals, stress reduction, being able to eat pretty much whatever I want and now, it provides me a platform to help others. I have been a recreational runner for 30 years and ran my first marathon in 2002. Over this time, I have completed 8 marathons, many half marathons and 10Ks. When I turned 50, I decided that I would run an ultra marathon, which is defined as any distance beyond the traditional marathon distance of 26.2 miles, and on 5 September 2010, I will run my first ultra, Run on the Sly, 50K. This race takes place in the Sierra Nevada mountain range at an altitude of 3,800 feet featuring a hilly course covering mountain trails and fire roads.