When we initially envisioned what types projects Train for Humanity would support through various humanitarian organizations, providing education and resources, especially to orphans, was very high on the list.

However, it never occurred to us to think that we might need to have our training efforts go toward helping to rebuild a school. Especially, one that was bombed, destroyed, and in which six school children were killed.

The Shegegkaro School was the first school built by the Darfur Peace & Development Organization and the following is a synopsis of an article written about the bombing by Eric Reeves:

On May 4, at about 4 p.m., a school was bombed in the village of Shegeg Karo in North Darfur; one classroom was destroyed, killing six students and injuring others. The village marketplace was also bombed, killing several people and destroying most of the shops in this vestige of a shattered agricultural economy.

Who are the victims of this international cowardice? Who suffers when the world refuses to demand justice of those who would deliberately kill children? Let’s at least grant the dignity of names to the victims of this most recent barbarism:

• Fatima Suleiman Adam Omar, 3rd grade, 10 years old
• Fatima Ahmad Bashir, 2nd grade, 8 years old
• Mubarak Mohammed Ahmad, 3rd grade, 10 years old
• Yusuf Adam Hamid, kindergarten, 5 years old
• Munira Suleiman Adam, 2nd grade, 7 years old
• Adam Ahmad Yusuf, 4th grade, 11 years old

The whole world should respond vigorously to a nation that barbarously bombs kindergartners such as Yusuf Adam Hamid. Instead, we lamely bow in deference to Sudan’s “national sovereignty.” Do we have the courage to accept the stark implications of our refusal to hold accountable those responsible for his death? The answer is painfully, disgracefully obvious.

We would really like to be able to provide DPDO with $5,000 at the end of phase one to help reconstruct the school building and we feel that is an achievable goal.

If you would like to sponsor either Leo Babauta, who is training for the Honolulu Marathon, Dan Clements who is getting ready for the Niagara Falls Half-Marathon, or Mark Hayward as he prepares for his first triathlon, the Miami Man Olympic Distance, then we would truly appreciate your support. ALL of the monies will be going to Darfur Peace & Development.

Our Training Update (for the past week)

Dan Clements

Mon 9/29: 5K run

Wed 10/1: 7K run

Fri 10/3: 12K run

Sun 10/5: Our family did a 5K race to raise money for breast cancer research. This was Eve’s first race - she’s 7!

Leo Babauta

Mon 9/29: 9 miles w/ 4 miles @ LT pace

Tue 9/30: yardwork & weights

Wed 10/1: 12 miles

Thu 10/2: yardwork & weights

Fri 10/3: 20 mile long run

Rested on the weekend

Mark Hayward

Mon 9/29: brick workout bike – 10 miles then right into run – 5 miles

Tue 9/30: bike 15 miles

Wed 10/1: Off

Thu 10/2: swim speed work 30min; bike 15 miles; run 5 miles

Fri 10/3: swim 40min; bike – easy five miles; run 4 miles race pace

Rested on the weekend

Blog Action Day Wednesday, October 15th

Times are tough. If you don’t have a spare $1.00, $5.00, or $10.00 to sponsor us that is perfectly understandable, even in the best of economic times. However, Blog Action Day, which is next week, is focusing on poverty this year. Train for Humanity is comprised of bloggers putting the ACTION into Blog Action Day.

Poverty is one of the underlying causes of what is happening in Darfur. If you believe in what Train for Humanity and Blog Action Day are trying to do, you can still have an impact. PLEASE send out a mention TODAY on Twitter (or your favorite social media network) about this post and remember to include Train for Humanity in your Blog Action Day blog post.

The time that you spent here today at Train for Humanity is truly appreciated because without *you* we can’t continue to help spread awareness and raise funds.

(Note: Special thanks this week for something they said, wrote, or did to: Sean Bohan, Core Performance, Chris Brogan, Daryn Kagan, Jeff Pulver, Ross Hill, Kim Woodbridge, Mark Salinas, Pearl Jenny Mannion, Liz Strauss)