My name is Katie Yankowski and I am extremely passionate about this planet and its incredible inhabitants.
Nature has always been of incomparable value to me, even as a little kid. Having grown up in the Midwest, I spent a great deal of time wandering through wetlands, climbing & falling out of my fair share of trees, following creeks & streams til they ran dry, catching frogs, calling out to robins, sparrows, chickadees and cardinals, and coming back home with leaves in my hair, dirt on my hands, and grass stains coloring my knees and elbows. I vividly remember running through the snow blanketed prairie in my backyard with my dog, looking up into the night sky and whispering to the stars, the wind and the trees how I loved them so. What might seem a bit strange or foreign to some was what made me who I am today.
You see, "nature strolls" were a normal part of mine & my Mom's everyday life. She instilled in me from a young age the importance of living life fully, because our time on this planet is fleeting and must be full of awareness, appreciation and amazement of the little details all around us. The second set of stars sparkling in between blades of tall grasses, the coo of doves on a misty morning, the filtering of soft white light through budding leaves in spring time, the chorus of coyote voices rising for a few wild moments before settling back into a nighttime hush... These were all things that fulfilled us, that inspired and kept us content even in our most trying times.
Because I'm such a nature nerd, I have chosen to pursue another set of races in order to raise money in the name of wildlife and Mama Earth!
Illinois Wildlife Medical Clinic:
A nonprofit clinic that cares for more than 1,000 native wildlife a year. The veterinary students and faculty of the UIllinois campus work hard each day to rehab animals in need and to protect the creatures that make this planet so vivd with life!
American Forests Organization:
Over the last 20 years, the American Forest Organizarion has planted more than 40 million trees around the world, restoring forest ecosystems that have been damaged by wildfire, disease, insects, drought, development and other natural and man-made causes. They are extremely dedicated to educating the public about the many benefits of trees and forests. After all, the more we know, the more we realize that these are limited natural resources that we just can't do without. (They make the Earth so beau-tree-ful!)
In hopes that taking some physical feats will help my cause to raise money for some very worthwhile charities, I've chosen the following races to rock out in the coming months:
April 7th - I will be running 10 miles of trail in the forest surrounding Homer Lake in Champaign, IL to benefit the Illinois Wildlife Medical Clinic.
April 27th - I'll participate in the Illinois half-marathon for the second time, and will sweat out another 13 miles in the name of trees that give us the oxygen we breathe while jogging and walking our way across this great planet!
June 9th - I will take on the full triathlon in the ever-so scenic Winona, MN-- and you better believe that I'll be absorbing the beauty of the landscape, reflecting on all of the good that your donations will help bring about!
Together, we can help better the well-being of our planet and the beautiful array of life that it supports!
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- With all donations With all donations $30 or more, you will receive a photo print of one of Earth's many little beauties and personalized message thanking you for your awesomeness.
- With all donations of $50 or more, you will receive a nature-inspired drawing by yours truly.
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