ELEVATE:IWD2019 & GIRLS GOTTA RUN

She runs for solidarity.

She runs for power.

She runs for the future of the Bekoji village.

She runs for all the girls in Africa.

My girls, ages 12 and 14, have access to hundreds of sports.  And through the years, they've played many.  Gymnastics, soccer, skiing, to name a few.  Since they were very young, my husband and I have always encouraged them to try what interests them; because they could.  Because, thankfully, no one has ever told them they couldn't.  They have no idea how lucky they are.  Today, they both have found one specific sport that they are incredibly passionate about, that they do almost every day of the week, that they have committed themselves to fully at this point.  And, that might change.  But for now, it's a huge part of their lives and a big part of what makes them who they are.  There is no question that girls rise through sport.  I see it with my own daughters.  And I see it with the high school girls that I coach.  They gain strength, confidence, and so much more when they strive to reach their goals and push themselves out of their comfort zones and to their limits.  And they gain even more when they are surrounded by their peers.  Every girl should have access to sports.  But they don't.  Or, they can't because of barriers such as cost, location, or access to gear, coaches or teams.  Today, on this International Women's Day, I am thrilled to highlight the work that Jaybird Sport is currently doing with the Girls Gotta Run Foundation.  GGRF is a non-profit based in Ethiopia that "invests in girls who use running and education to empower themselves and their communities."  The folks over at Jaybird Sport have chosen GGRF for their most recent episode of their Run Wild Film Series.

The film follows Jaybird athlete Rory Bosio to the small farming village of Bekoji, Ethiopia, where she explores the country’s deep roots in distance running and learns how the Girls Gotta Run Foundation is helping young girls create a brighter future through running.

GGR is dedicated to using Ethiopia’s national sport of running to create safe spaces, expand education and empower young Ethiopian women and their communities.

In honor of International Women's Day, Jaybird is setting out to help make a difference for women in Bekoji, Ethiopia by supporting this amazing organization.  Their goal is to provide every member of GGR with a new pair of running shoes and a running outfit.

For the entire month of March, five dollars of every Jaybird headphone purchase will go directly to supporting Girls Gotta Run, and every $75 we raise provides one girl with a full running kit.  Please consider joining Jaybird in helping empower and create a brighter future for these Ethiopian women.  Want to learn more?  Watch the video.  And share it with others.  Then go get yourself some Jaybirds, the best bluetooth headphones designed specifically for sport, and help support the GGR Foundation.  #RUNWILD

Listen to this:

Show You What I Can Do - Royal Teeth