Lee's 100 Mile Run for Posoltega (wearing "huaraches")

   

What's it all about?

     I plan on running 100 miles wearing huaraches to draw attention to a children’s lunch program in Posoltega, Nicaragua.  NO, I’m not going to be able to do it all in one day.  I am 65 years old and haven’t done any significant running in twenty years.  I plan on running as far as I can each day and log my miles and post them via email and Facebook.  Hopefully, I can do 5 miles the first day.  I will begin the run approximately March 15^th.

What are Huaraches?

Huaraches are expedient foot protectors worn all around the world in poorer countries.  They can be made of any type of material but I am using pieces of car tire that are tied to my feet with leather straps.  There are no padded heels, arch supports or tops.  Essentially, the wearer is barefooted and the huaraches only serve to protect the feet from rocks, glass, etc.

Where is Posoltega?

     Bloomington, Indiana has a sister city in Nicaragua called Posoltega.  Nicaragua is the poorest country in Central Ameriac.    Our local organization is part of Sister Cities International but receives  zero financial support from them or from the City of Bloomington.  The “Posoltega Committee” has sponsored a children’s lunch program there for almost 20 years.  Posoltega is a very poor community and we have been feeding about 85 children each day in a  lunch room called a ‘comedor’.  The children receive a very simple meal, usually just beans and rice.   For many of the children, our lunch program provides their only meal of the day.   I have personally visited Posoltega nine times over the past twenty years and can vouch for the effectiveness and credibility of the program.
     Some of you might remember that it was Posoltega that was almost wiped off the map by hurricane Mitch in 1998.  I had the good fortune of having been up on the side of the volcano Las Casitas just two weeks before the hurricane caused the great mudslide that cost Posoltega 5,000 lives.  I also had the good fortune and honor of being able to return immediately after the mudslide and help recover bodies form the mud.   It was a very sad but rewarding time for me.  It brings me to tears to write this.    I feel very bonded to the community of hurricane survivors

Why am I Telling You About This?

     It only costs about 20 cents (yes, 20 cents) for each meal.  I want to raise $5,000 to keep the program running.  Yes, I am asking for money.  Due to the faltering economy, we have almost run out of money to fund the lunch program.  This has never happened before.  Below are listed the approximate costs to run the program for a month.

Rice	114 lb	$65
Beans	72 lb	$81
Oil	15 liters	$26
Tortilla Flour	72 lb	$44
Sugar	57 lb	$22
Soybeans	36 lb	$14
Firewood		$14
Water		$4
Labor		$80

This comes to $350 per month and provides about 1,700 meals.

     I am Boldly Asking Each Donor to Give $50.  We only need 100 people to contribute that amount in order for us to reach the goal.  Of course, larger or smaller donations will be graciously received.  I know that many of you have your own favorite charities so I won’t be offended if you choose not to support this effort of mine.

     I am further asking each of you to refer me to a friend of yours who you think would be willing to help.   I am concerned that some people who don’t know me personally will receive this message and think that it is a scam.  That is why I ask that you personally speak on my behalf.

Checks or money orders can be made out to:

POSOLTEGA COMMITTEE

PO BOX 1461

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA 47402

Or,

MAKE THE CHECK PAYABLE TO “POSOLTEGA COMMITTEE” and send it to:

Lee Mysliwiec

1314 South Lincoln Street

Bloomington, Indiana 47401

Questions?  Call me at 812-369-6823       leemysliwiec@yahoo.com   or,   leemysliwiec@gmail.com

     The Posoltega Committee is a 501 (C) (3) non profit organization and your donation is tax deductible.    Here is the BEST PART… ALL of your donation goes directly to the program.  Our committee members are volunteers and we have virtually no expenses at this end.  Whenever one of us travels to Posoltega we do so at our own expense.  When we visit, we stay in the homes of local residents and pay them for our visit out of our own pockets.

What Inspired Me to do the Run?

1. During one of my visits to Nicaragua I saw a farmer wearing a piece of plastic on his feet and I was impressed because all of the young people wanted us to provide them with shoes of the type that we wear.  The farmer made his own shoes …..why couldn’t the young people be resourceful and make their own?  Their indigenous ancestors made beautiful sandals and  had no need for name brand shoes.  
2. My lovely wife, Libby, has a second cousin named Rosie Pope.  You may have heard about her.  She ran AROUND THE WORLD to promote awareness of prostate cancer.   It took her over 5 years to complete her run and she wrote a book about it.  I figure that if she can run around the world, then I can run 100 miles.
3. The Tarahumara people of Mexico are world famous for running long distances wearing car-tire huaraches.  Their exploits are highlighted in the book, “Born To Run”.
4. Hungry kids, hungry through no fault of their own.

Please help me with this project………  LEE Mysliwiec