My Run for China’s Children spans the globe! In early June a benefit auction will take place in Shanghai, China, 100% of the proceeds will go towards rebuilding the JiaYou primary school. Pretty Cool!

Here is a short video I created that will be shown at the charity auction. I hope you enjoy the young girls from a local Shanghai school who sing "Pass It On" (download mp3). Please note that the video may take a moment to load. It’s worth the wait!

Here are the English lyrics:

• It only takes a spark to get a fire going.
• And soon we’ll understand infinite possibilities.
• That’s how it is with Learning.
• Once you’ve experienced it, you want to teach; you want to give; you want to pass it on.
• That’s how it is with Learning. Once you’ve experienced it, you want to teach; you want to give; you want to pass it on.

Finally, if you would like to take a virtual 21.3 training run with me … here is last Saturday’s run through the forests of Northern Minnesota … ending at Northstar Lake. You’ll be able to experience in a few minutes what took be just under four hours!

• Northstar Nerd’s 21.3 Marathon Training Run
  (may take a moment to load)

Finally, I hope this has convinced you to join my growing list of donors. Remember, not only am a running Grandma’s Marathon, but I’m also a donor. $6,000 will rebuild the JiaYou school, and I’ve raised $4,840 to date. (learn more about my run, and see the updated total). Pledges may be emailed to me, Rich Hoeg, at rhoeg@comcast.net. Donations are tax deductible in the United States.

Here are two photos of JiaYou, and the Shanghai Girls Choir.
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My friends at the China Tomorrow Education Foundation have given me a Chinese name, loosely translated it sounds something like "Rich", and means "Lucky Unicorn"! Actually I think it will be the children in JiaYou who will be lucky, because with your help we will rebuild their school. Both Grandma’s Marathon, including my Run for China’s Children, and my pledge total are getting close to what’s needed.

• See the kids of JiaYou and the region (short slide show)
• Learn more about my Run for China

Today, I ran in the Lake Minnetonka Half-Marathon (13.1 miles). The unicorn must have needed this time trial! I broke 8 minute miles and finished in 1 hour and 44 minutes … 18th out of 117 in "older men classification" (age 50 to 59). My overall spot was 117 out of 1,500!

On the pledge drive front, we’re up to $4,540!  $6k will re-build the YanLao Primary School is JiaYou, which is located in Guangxi Province, China.  Please help me achieve this goal … email a pledge to me, Rich Hoeg, at rhoeg@comcast.net. Thank you! You can expand the thumbnail and view the unicorn!
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I have a school! My Run for China’s Children will rebuild the YanLao Primary School in JiaYou, which is located in Guangxi Province, China. Please watch this short slide show (1 minute long). It shows YanLao, and me after today’s 19.2 mile training run!

• Rich Hoeg’s Run for China’s Children
  (may take a few moments to load)

Two months from today, I will run Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota (my home town). My run is a personal quest to build that school. Education is what drives understanding in this world. Including my own $600 donation, as of today, $4,335 has been pledged ($6k builds one school).

Please help me rebuild YanLao’s school.

eMail your pledge to me, Rich Hoeg, at rhoeg@comcast.net. All donations are tax deductible in the United States. My formal partner in this quest is the China Education Tomorrow Foundation. You may always view the updated donor list, and pledge total by linking to my initial Run for China Post.

Today’s training run was 19.2 miles. It took me 3 hours and 5 minutes.  I’m tired and sore! Click to expand the thumbnail image.
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Attached to this posting are photos taken at Christmas in 1952 from the Korean War. My Dad was serving as a MASH doctor in America's fight against North Korea and China. Now 55 years later I am partnered with Dj, a software engineer from China. Our goal is to build an elementary school in rural China. Although our dad's never fought on the same battlefield, Dj's father served in the artillery and shelled USN and Taiwanese positions across the straits of Formosa. Thus, the Dads fought; the sons build.

Three months from today, I will run Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota (my home town). My run is a personal quest to build that school. Including my own $600 donation, as of today, $3,330 has been pledged ($6k builds one school).

Please help me build a school.

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Post Update: School has been built! Thank you!

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eMail your pledge to me, Rich Hoeg, at rhoeg@comcast.net. All donations are tax deductible in the United States. My formal partner in this quest is the China Education Tomorrow Foundation. You may always view the updated donor list, and pledge total by linking to my initial Run for China Post.

Today's training run was 16 miles. It took me 2 hours and 30 minutes.  I'm tired and sore!
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Post Update Continued: Video of my visit to JiaYou!

Ever wondered how to say "Northstar Nerd" in Mandarin? Tune in to my short podcast (less than four minutes) where Dj attempts to teach me some basic Mandarin … and also explains the goals of the China Tomorrow Education Foundation.

• Nerdcast – Take 04: Rich Hoeg’s Run for Chinese Children
  (right click to download)

Here is some background information (please consider emailing a pledge):

• Amount Pledged as of March 1, 2007: $2,477 (updated total)
• Learn more about my Run for China – Grandma’s Marathon (June 2007)
• Last Saturday’s long training run: 15 miles in a Winter storm!

Finally, the podcast took place in a noisy Chinese restaurant in Avenel, N.J. My new microphone and laptop setup worked fine (podcasting tutorial). The photos taken below show Dj with me in my Run for China t-shirt. I used a web service that allows one to design a custom shirt online. Swift … click for a larger view!
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