The Bush-to-Beach Marathon is a fundraiser designed for the expansion of boys' and girls' education in The Gambia.
With the collaborative efforts of volunteers and GambiaRising Charitable Trust, we aim to decrease the education costs for more than 30 individual students that are nominated by current volunteers, convey the importance of education to local Gambians, and ultimately increase school participation. Through cross-sectorial determination and alongside willing local counterparts, we will run from Fatoto, The Gambia, to Fajara Beach, The Gambia. The Bush-to-Beach Marathon will allow volunteers from all over the country, regardless of gender, location, or sector a rare opportunity to celebrate the benefits of continued education. It also encourages outside sources to collaborate and fight the many obstacles that impede Gambian children from excelling in school. This marathon will partner GambiaRising Charitable Trust, a small American non-political non-profit organization whose mission is to support and sponsor deserving children with the opportunity to remain in school. With our partnership with GambiaRising Charitable Trust, we will be able to raise money from loved ones, counterparts, and even host country nationals for students countrywide.
• If you donate 25 dollars, you will receive a personalized message from the Volunteer.
• If you donate 50 dollars, you will receive a personalized message from the Volunteer and
photos from the marathon.
• If you donate 100 dollars, you will receive a personalized message from the Volunteer, photos from the marathon, and a letter from a Gambian student.
Here are just some of the students we hope to find support for:

Sector: Agriculture and Environment
College: College of William & Mary
Hometown: Herndon, Virginia
What inspired you to run?
“My grandmother is my inspiration. She was the first girl in her village in rural India to go to junior college.”
To support Akshay and her students, please click the "Add to Cart" button as many times as you wish, or adjust the "quantity" at check-out.
• If you donate $25, you will receive a personalized message from Akshay.
• If you donate $50, you will receive a personalized message from Akshay and photos from the marathon.
• If you donate $100, you will receive a personalized message from Akshay, photos from the marathon, and a letter from a Gambian student.

Sector: Agriculture and Environment
College: University of Southern Indiana
Hometown: Jasper, Indiana
What inspired you to run?
“The run is a great way to get motivated and show the kids we’re sponsoring what motivation can do!”
To support Alejandro and his students, please click the "Add to Cart button as many times as you wish, or adjust the "quantity" at check-out.
• If you donate $25, you will receive a personalized message from Alejandro.
• If you donate $50, you will receive a personalized message from Alejandro and photos from the marathon.
• If you donate $100, you will receive a personalized message from Alejandro, photos from the marathon, and a letter from a Gambian student.

Sector: Health
College: Northwest Nazarene University
Hometown: Federal Way, Washington
What inspired you to run?
“I am inspired to run for two reasons. One, I love to run. Two, I get to run across the Gambia.”
To support Brenda and her students, please click the "Add to Cart" button as many times as you wish, or adjust the "quantity" at check-out.
• If you donate $25, you will receive a personalized message from Brenda.
• If you donate $50, you will receive a personalized message from Brendaand photos from the marathon.
• If you donate $100, you will receive a personalized message from Brenda, photos from the marathon, and a letter from a Gambian student.

Sector: Health
College: Georgia College and State University
Hometown: Canton, Georgia
What inspired you to run?
"Recently I stumbled across a quote that really embodied my feelings regarding education. Going to school in the Gambia is sometimes a decision between knowledge and sustenance. Even if I can pay for 1 book or 1 class, it is a sacrifice I would do a thousand times over."
"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you."To support Cameron and her students, please click the "Add to Cart" button as many times as you wish, or adjust the "quantity" at check-out.
• If you donate $25, you will receive a personalized message from Cameron.
• If you donate $50, you will receive a personalized message from Cameron and photos from the marathon.
• If you donate $100, you will receive a personalized message from Cameron, photos from the marathon, and a letter from a Gambian student.

Sector: Education
College: University of New Mexico
Hometown: Roswell, New Mexico
What inspired you to run?
“This run is a fun way to talk to students about how important it is to stay in school. It’s important for them to know that people support them and believe in their education.”
To support Chris and his students, please click the "Add to Cart button as many times as you wish, or adjust the "quantity" at check-out.
• If you donate $25, you will receive a personalized message from Chris.
• If you donate $50, you will receive a personalized message from Chris and photos from the marathon.
• If you donate $100, you will receive a personalized message from Chris, photos from the marathon, and a letter from a Gambian student.

Sector: Health
College: Delta State University
Hometown: Cleveland, Mississippi
What inspired you to run?
“By running, I help raise money to send a kid to school. I think that’s awesome.”
To support D Rashad and his students, please click the "Add to Cart button as many times as you wish, or adjust the "quantity" at check-out.
• If you donate $25, you will receive a personalized message from D Rashad.
• If you donate $50, you will receive a personalized message from D Rashad and photos from the marathon.
• If you donate $100, you will receive a personalized message from D Rashad, photos from the marathon, and a letter from a Gambian student.

Sector: Health
College: American University (Washington, DC)
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
What inspired you to run?
“I am running so that more Gambian youth can attend school and pursue their dreams.”
To support Emily and her students, please click the "Add to Cart button as many times as you wish, or adjust the "quantity" at check-out.
• If you donate $25, you will receive a personalized message from Emily.
• If you donate $50, you will receive a personalized message from Emily and photos from the marathon.
• If you donate $100, you will receive a personalized message from Emily, photos from the marathon, and a letter from a Gambian student.

Sector: Health
College: Simpson College
Hometown: Apache Junction, Arizona
What inspired you to run?
“I run because I want to see more young people take advantage of opportunities that their parents didn't have and help them become the leaders of the next generation.”
If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea. - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Sector: Health
College: College of Wooster
Hometown: Delaware, Ohio
What inspired you to run?
“I am motivated to run because I know how much an education can influence a young person’s future. I work with the school, but see so many students who cannot attend. I love running and now get to do it with a purpose: encouraging kids to attend and remain in school.”
To support Kathleen and her students, please click the "Add to Cart" button as many times as you wish, or adjust the "quantity" at check-out.
• If you donate $25, you will receive a personalized message from Kathleen.
• If you donate $50, you will receive a personalized message from Kathleen, and photos from the marathon.
• If you donate $100, you will receive a personalized message from Kathleen, photos from the marathon, and a letter from a Gambian student.

Sector: Health
College: Georgetown University
Hometown: New York, NY
What inspired you to run?
“I’m running because kids deserve to be kids. At home, young Gambians acquire what Americans view as adult responsibilities very early. The least they deserve is to stay in school to avoid early marriage or entering the workforce as a child. If just one kid is able to retain their childhood for that much longer by staying in school, my run will be well worth it.”
To support Katie and her students, please click the "Add to Cart button as many times as you wish, or adjust the "quantity" at check-out.
• If you donate $25, you will receive a personalized message from Katie.
• If you donate $50, you will receive a personalized message from Katie and photos from the marathon.
• If you donate $100, you will receive a personalized message from Katie, photos from the marathon, and a letter from a Gambian student.

Sector: Health
College: University of Toledo and Case Western Reserve University.
Hometown: Canton, Michigan

College: University of Montana
Hometown: Lake Oswego, OR
What inspired you to run?
" I am running to try and remove some of the barriers that children face every day in their education. Whether it is access, tuition, or support, nothing should stop a child from going to school."
To support Kelsey and her students, please click the "Add to Cart button as many times as you wish, or adjust the "quantity" at check-out.
• If you donate $25, you will receive a personalized message from Kelsey.
• If you donate $50, you will receive a personalized message from Kelsey and photos from the marathon.
• If you donate $100, you will receive a personalized message from Kelsey, photos from the marathon, and a letter from one of Kelsey's students.

Sector: Education
College: Frostberg State University
Hometown: Walkersville, Maryland
What inspired you to run?
“Running has always been my escape when life gets too big around me. When I am out on my runs in The Gambia I see young girls fetching water, weeding the garden, washing clothes, and cooking family meals all while they should be in school. Their life is tough, they deserve an escape but they won’t complain. So I run for them and I will run for them until they are able to finish their education and pursue their dreams outside of compound walls.”
To support Kimberly and her students, please click the "Add to Cart button as many times as you wish, or adjust the "quantity" at check-out.
• If you donate $25, you will receive a personalized message from Kimberly.
• If you donate $50, you will receive a personalized message from Kimberly and photos from the marathon.
• If you donate $100, you will receive a personalized message from Kimberly, photos from the marathon, and a letter from a Gambian student.

Kristen writes:
Aime is 16 years old and is in 7th grade. She has three younger brothers and lives with her grandparents in the small village of Arangallen. She spends every day helping her grandmother, Inna, with the daily chores. She dreams of one day working in the banks and she is the smartest young woman I have met during my time in The Gambia.
I want to help keep her in school so that she is free to pursue her dreams and live the life she wants.
Copy this link to see a short video about her: https://youtu.be/zb2cryQez2w

Sector: Agriculture and Environment
College: Moravian College
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia
What inspired you to run?
“I want to support girls going to school and I thought it would be a fun way to raise awareness and funds.”
To support Krystal and her students, please click the "Add to Cart button as many times as you wish, or adjust the "quantity" at check-out.
• If you donate $25, you will receive a personalized message from Krystal.
• If you donate $50, you will receive a personalized message from Krystal and photos from the marathon.
• If you donate $100, you will receive a personalized message from Krystal, photos from the marathon, and a letter from a Gambian student.

Sector: Agriculture and Environment
College: University of North Texas
Hometown: College Station, Texas
What inspired you to run?
“It’s one thing to hear about kids who don’t have the resources to go; it’s another thing to have them be your next door neighbor. I really hope that through our efforts we can extend resources to children who would otherwise not have access to education.”
To support Martin and his students, please click the "Add to Cart" button as many times as you wish, or adjust the "quantity" at check-out.
• If you donate $25, you will receive a personalized message from Martin.
• If you donate $50, you will receive a personalized message from Martin and photos from the marathon.
• If you donate $100, you will receive a personalized message from Martin, photos from the marathon, and a letter from a Gambian student.

College: Tulane University Newcome College (BS), Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (MPH), George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services (DrPH)
Hometown: Washington, DC
What insired you to get involved?
I am a Korean American adoptee who has been able to gain the kind of education that many females cannot access. Because of my education, I live as an independent woman, I feel confident about who I am as a global citizen, and I am able to help people. I want every young girl to have the opportunity to reach her own self-fulfillment in her lifetime.
To support Memi and Gambian students, please click the "Add to Cart button as many times as you wish, or adjust the "quantity" at check-out.

Sector: Education Sector
College: California State University, Chico
Hometown: Redding, California
What inspired you to run?
“My inspiration to run is because I know how hard girls work to go to school. Running is the least I can do.”
To support Misi and her students, please click the "Add to Cart button as many times as you wish, or adjust the "quantity" at check-out.
• If you donate $25, you will receive a personalized message from Misi.
• If you donate $50, you will receive a personalized message from Misi and photos from the marathon.
• If you donate $100, you will receive a personalized message from Misi, photos from the marathon, and a letter from a Gambian student.

Sector: Health
College: Appalachian State University
Hometown: Eldersburg, Maryland
What inspired you to run?
“The unfamiliar Gambian faces that have become my family here inspire me to push forward and persevere. If the one lasting thing I can do to give back to The Gambia is to empower and support youth education, by running in this marathon, there is no easier decision for me to make. I run to break down barriers my kids face every day.”
To support Paige and her students, please click the "Add to Cart" button as many times as you wish, or adjust the "quantity" at check-out.
• If you donate $25, you will receive a personalized message from Paige.
• If you donate $50, you will receive a personalized message from Paige, and photos from the marathon.
• If you donate $100, you will receive a personalized message from Paige, photos from the marathon, and a letter from a Gambian student.

Sector: Agriculture and Environment
College: Colorado State University
Hometown: Merrimack, New Hampshire
What inspired you to run?
“I became interested in this because it will help raise money to send some Gambian children to school whose families wouldn’t be able to afford it. In my short time in the Gambia, I have heard of many instances of people who weren’t able to finish school because of supply costs and I hope that my participation in the run can help.”
To support Sean and his students, please click the "Add to Cart button as many times as you wish, or adjust the "quantity" at check-out.
• If you donate $25, you will receive a personalized message from Sean.
• If you donate $50, you will receive a personalized message from Sean and photos from the marathon.
• If you donate $100, you will receive a personalized message from Sean, photos from the marathon, and a letter from a Gambian student.

Sector: Education
College: Fort Hays State University
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colorado
What inspired you to run?
“It is simple why I am partaking. I am running because I want every child in the Gambia to have access to education.”
To support Tre’ and his students, please click the "Add to Cart" button as many times as you wish, or adjust the "quantity" at check-out.
• If you donate $25, you will receive a personalized message from Tre’.
• If you donate $50, you will receive a personalized message from Tre’ and photos from the marathon.
• If you donate $100, you will receive a personalized message from Tre’, photos from the marathon, and a letter from a Gambian student.

Sector: Agriculture and Environment
College: Humboldt State University
Hometown: Greenville, California
What inspired you to run?
“Although I do not have a specific child to sponsor, inspiration came from my belief in equal and accessible education for all children (and adults). I am proud to be involved in any way with a program providing education opportunities for those who may be less fortunate.”
To support Trevor and Gambian students who otherwise wouldn't be able to go to school, please click the "Add to Cart" button as many times as you wish, or adjust the "quantity" at check-out.
• If you donate $25, you will receive a personalized message from Trevor.
• If you donate $50, you will receive a personalized message from Trevor and photos from the marathon.
• If you donate $100, you will receive a personalized message from Trevor, photos from the marathon, and a letter from a Gambian student.
