Day 16 – New Routes, Role Models, and a Van Full of Bottles

Day 16 of my Happiness Run for Clean Water and Gender Equality was one of the most memorable days so far. Not only was it one of my longest runs yet, but it was also one of the most inspiring, educational, and honestly… just heartwarming.

I was joined by a very special guest on my run today, Lavinia Carreau, who is an experienced and super strong runner. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to keep up with her pace or energy, but as soon as we started running, those nerves faded. She was so encouraging and supportive, and it made the whole run feel fun instead of stressful. We started up by the RECC Centre and ran through Millbrook, which was a route I had never done before. I love getting to run in new places, it keeps things fresh and exciting, and this one was especially peaceful and beautiful.

We originally set out to run 6km, my goal every day, but we got caught up in chatting and ended up doing 8km instead! It didn’t even feel like 8 because the conversation made the time fly by. I learned so much from Lavinia during that run. She shared stories about her travels to South Africa and Peru, including information about hippos, which are way more dangerous than most people think. But more than the facts and travel stories, what really stuck with me was hearing about the work people are doing around the world to support women and communities.

Lavinia told me about her daughter, Eve, who is currently in Peru, working directly with women to help empower them through community development and education. It reminded me so much of what my mom does in Tanzania and what I’m working toward with this project. I couldn’t stop thinking about how amazing it is that women from different parts of the world are doing similar work in different ways, all connected by the same goal: lifting each other up. It made me feel like I’m part of something so much bigger than myself, and that’s really motivating.

I’m honestly just so grateful Lavinia took the time to run with me and share her experiences. Her kindness, her knowledge, and her passion for helping others made such an impact on me. It reminded me that we all have something to learn from each other, and that conversations, especially during a good long run, can be the spark for so much inspiration and growth. Lavinia, if you’re reading this, thank you so much. You made today incredibly special.

And that’s not even the whole day!

After the run, I jumped straight into bottle drive mode, and it was a huge success. I collected a full van of cans and bottles from people in my community who generously donated to the cause. The total raised was $224.80!! Every single bottle or can brought me one step closer to my fundraising goal, and I’m so, so thankful to everyone who donated. It might seem like a small thing, but it adds up in a big way, and that money is going directly toward funding a NanoFilter Water Centre that will bring clean water to a school or orphanage in a community in Tanzania.

It still blows my mind that something as simple as returning bottles can help make such a big difference. Clean water changes everything, health, education, opportunity, and every dollar raised is a step toward that change. If you are reading this and have bottles or cans you’d like to recycle, let me know and I’ll come pick them up from you!

So, to sum up: Day 16 = new route, 8km run (despite the image below only being a record of 6.19), an incredible mentor, learning about global women’s empowerment, AND a van full of recyclables to support clean water and gender equality. My heart is full. My legs are tired. And my motivation is stronger than ever.

With your support and only a few days left of my project, I’m getting closer and closer to my goal of raising enough money to purchase a NanoFilter Water Centre in Tanzania!! Thank you again to everyone who has donated, cheered me on, or just followed along today. I’m so grateful for all the love and support.