A MESSAGE FROM Lindsey’s NYC Marathon Fundraising Page
One of my greatest passions in life is sparking a sense of invincibility in young women through sport and physical activity. I look forward to my continual involvement in the Strong Girls United Foundation as it has provided me with the opportunity to share the gifts of sport with other young women. With much appreciation, thank you for your donation! You can also support Strong Girls United by the following:
Follow us on Instagram @stronggirlsunited- Like/Comment/Share our work and in your stories. Invite your friends to follow. Follow us on Facebook and YouTube. Share this donation page with friends. You may find more information on our website: https://sgunitedfoundation.org/
A little bit about my story...
I have a tattoo behind my ear that reads, "12.18.14". While my mom was far from happy about my decision to "ink my body forever," I hold this date with immense pride and gratitude. On December 18th, 2014 I had open-heart surgery at Boston Children's Hospital to repair a hole in my heart wall. Physical activity has always been at the apex of my happiness, and I spent much of my middle and high school experience fearful of losing it. I worried that my heart defect would prevent me from not only playing games that brought me so much joy, but also take away my identity, friendships, and mentors. At the time, being an athlete was everything to me. "12.18.14" is not only the day my lifelong fear subsided, but also the moment I tangibly noticed the endless gifts that physical activity and sport had given me. I graduated from Duke in 2020 where I played lacrosse for four years. Following graduation, I started distance running to fill the void of losing lacrosse and part of what had been my identity for the last ten years. Running allows me to take time for myself and appreciate the simple joys of putting on a podcast, calling a friend, or drowning out the stresses of everyday life with a good playlist. Running a marathon has definitely been at the top of my bucket list, and I am psyched to be able to run for a foundation that aims at promoting what has meant so much to me. My involvement with the Strong Girls United Foundation has provided me with the opportunity to spark resiliency, empowerment, and confidence in young women through a shared joy of physical activity and the inevitable development of a powerful mental skill set that follows. I find pride, peace, and gratitude through sharing what has helped form my identity as an athlete, student, teammate, colleague, and friend with other young women. I will definitely be keeping this message in mind when I am running! God knows I am always looking for a new challenge! :)
