Project Endurance Africa

From the north woods of Minnesota to the Kansas Prairie
Two ultra-marathons- 200 miles- in 2 months
To transform a country, one student at a time
Please join my team!

August, 2008

Dear Friend,

I hope this letter finds you doing well. On September, 5th-6th, I will be racing in the Superior Sawtooth 100, a 100 mile “trail” ultra-marathon in northern Minnesota through the Sawtooth mountain range. Then 35 days later will be racing in the Kansas Spirit of the Prairie Heartland 100, a 100 mile road ultra-marathon, through the last remaining tall grass prairie in the United States. I have never attempted back to back 100 milers, so this will be a new experience and certainly a physical, emotional and mental challenge for me. However, I will be armed with a secret weapon to pull me through – hope for a better future.

This is where you come in, as part of racing the Superior Sawtooth 100 and the Heartland 100, I intend to generate support and hope for AIDS orphans in Tanzania, East Africa. It is estimated that over 14 million children in Africa have lost their parents to the AIDS pandemic. By no fault of their own, these children are left behind with little hope for their future. For many orphans, the death of one or both parents means the end of any chance for going to school and creating a better life for themselves.

Peace House Africa, a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization, currently supports over 700 orphaned children in Tanzania, and is now building Peace House Secondary School, a major secondary boarding school for orphans with a special focus on the development of entrepreneurial business skills. My wife, Anne, and I know the leaders of Peace House Africa and I can assure you that 100% of your donation will go directly to the AIDS orphans in Tanzania since all of their overhead expenses are paid by a single benefactor. A key goal for Peace House Secondary is to graduate job creators – young people who can build a sustainable economy and future for their country. Learn more about Peace House Africa via their webpage at HYPERLINK "http://www.peacehouseafrica.org" www.peacehouseafrica.org.

Peace House Secondary School (PHS) is a secondary boarding school (ages 13-19) serving 210 AIDS Orphans with plans for serving more in the future. It has a special focus on developing creative problem solving skills and entrepreneurial business skills and hits home for me because;

The boarding school provides a long-term solution to the AIDS pandemic by educating and graduating “job creators,” people who will generate commerce and trade for generations to follow. PHS operates on the principle, “give someone a fish and they’ll eat for a day…but teach them how to fish and they’ll eat for a lifetime.” The children enrolled in the school get their life sustaining “fish for the day” but more importantly they are learning how to build a new economy for their country. The “hunger relief” programs are necessary, but are only a band-aid. Programs like the PHS are the only way for Africa to permanently put out the fire.
My vision is to provide a place for these students to learn, to thrive and to become the next generation of leaders within their country. To that end my family and I are committing to raise $30,000 to help build a classroom at the school. This classroom will be used for critical learning in the areas of science, math, English and social studies.

I am asking for your support by making a tax deductible contribution to this classroom through my project called “Endurance Africa.” I would ask you consider making a pledge per mile (200) I am running. I will need to raise $150 per mile to reach the goal of $30,000. I know that you may not be able to pledge that much, so know PHS and I am grateful any and all support.

Please visit my website at HYPERLINK http://theepicadventureblog.blogspot.com/ http://theepicadventureblog.blogspot.com/ for ongoing information and access to the online contribution functionality. Donating online is safe and simple or if you chose you can send a check made out to Peace House Africa to my home address at:

5616 Brook Drive
Edina, MN 55439

Via this site I will be providing race updates, race photos, fundraising updates on Project Endurance Africa, Peace House Africa videos and ongoing updates on how the school is doing in Tanzania. I want you to be fully aware of how of support is being used immediately to make a difference!

Yes, I know things are tight and you are constantly bombarded by requests for money and you are already giving generously to many worthy causes. I ask for your consideration, the African AIDS pandemic is not something we can ignore any longer and it is calling me into action.

This is a great opportunity for you to make an investment in the future of student and to help transform lives immediately. Less than five percent of children in Tanzania go to secondary school and most of those who do must pay for the schooling. These orphans have little chance for schooling, let alone for survival. You can help create positive learning endurance for these students, which in turn will create positive life endurance.

I am choosing to be put to the physical, mental and emotional test during these two races, but I will return to a blessed life upon finishing. With your help, we can immediately provide over 210 orphaned students in Tanzania with a more blessed life and hope for a better future for themselves, their families, their communities and their country. Your impact will continue to grow as the student population increases.

Please help create a place of learning and a fountain of hope for a generation of children who will shape the destiny of a nation.

Thank you for your consideration. Please email me at HYPERLINK "mailto:andrewdavis100s@comcast.net" andrewdavis100s@comcast.net or call me at 952-944-5562 if you have any questions. I am grateful for your support.

All my best to you,


Andrew Davis

2008 Race Reports & Photos

The 2008 Afton Trail Run- 50K 

I took 20th overall out of 131 in the race which I decided to do at the last minute, with zero taper and a long day of 4th of July celebrated the day before. I was very happy with how I felt finished- 4:55 with a 9:31 pace for 31 miles. It was a great race, I would really encourage you to try this this one, especially if you want a real trail feel, close to the Twin Cities.  Here is a photo of me coming into an aid station.

 

This is my friend Peter, note the seal in front of the kayak, even he wants a Kokanee Beer! This photo was taken in the Nassau Fjord in PWS.   

Check out my photos of my 100 mile Superior Sawtooth race by clicking the question mark