Racer: Carol Leiby

Hometown: Apple Valley, CA

Events: Austin 10/20 (10 miles, 20 stages) and the Del Webb Fitness Challenge 5K

Date of Race: April 15 and May 19, 2012

Goal Amount: $250 or more

Why Carol is Racing with Purpose:

Although fitness workouts are not new to me, distance walking is. This will be my first official 10 mile race. I love the thought that I can combine this personal goal with another passion I have – God has given me a heart for my Christian sisters in Africa.  
 


Tirzah International has given me opportunities to travel there, meet many women face to face, help them at leadership conferences, and to walk along side them in their struggles. I enjoy getting to know these courageous women and being able to help empower them but I am overwhelmed by the gravity of the social issues with which they live and struggle. Every woman there is either infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. Their communities have growing numbers of orphans and child-headed households, and they live with lingering cultures that traditionally allow abuse of women and children. In Burundi, they have also suffered the atrocity of genocide.
 


This summer I will be taking my first trip to Burundi. I met Tirzah's inspiring regional leader, Peace Nihorimbere, at one of the leadership conferences and worked with her during her visit to the US. Peace personally lost family members during the Burundi genocide but her faith gave her the courage to escape, get an education, and then return to help rebuild her country.
 


As I walk on behalf of these brave and dedicated women, I consider each mile a step toward a new skill, a new hope, or a new future for one of these inspiring women.
 


Please join me in helping these women overcome poverty and oppression in the name of Christ.   


Thank you!



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