In preparation for the
Leadville Trail 100, I am
running three 50 mile or
longer races to use as
training runs. I ran my
first of the three races,
the Collegiate Peaks 10 in
Buena Vista Colorado.
I didn’t feel prepared for
this race. With my daughter
and I coming down with
various sickness the last
few weeks and a couple
Colorado spring storms, I
wasn’t able to log in as
many miles as I needed. I
only was able to fit two 20
mile runs in prior to the
race, and they were mostly
flat. Being that the race
was two 25 mile loops with
4700 feet of elevation gain,
I started the race hoping to
complete the 50, but willing
to cut the run to 25 miles
if I would hurt myself if I
ran the full distance.
Typically I run at least two
20+ mile runs to train for a
marathon, and this race was
double marathon distance.
Having completed the first
lap relatively easily, I
made the decision to
continue on. Of course at
mile 28, my legs got real
heavy and I wondered what
why I didn’t stop when I had
the opportunity. Somewhere
between miles 35 and 40, I
caught up with another woman
runner and paced with her
for a while. I came to find
out that she had completed
10 of the 12 hundred mile
races she entered. She had
raced the Leadville 100
three times, with 2 finishes
and one DNF at mile 96. She
told me that running the
Leadville was a very
humbling experience. She
said it was torture, yet at
the same time the most
incredible experience. On
the run that she did not
finish, she had blacked out
at mile 96 and woke up in
the hospital. She told me
that she vomits on every 100
mile race. She also told me
that she crawled on her
hands and knees over Sugar
Loaf Pass, which is between
miles 76 and 88. Feeling
exhausted at the time, while
running and talking with
this woman about running a
100 miles, I could not
fathom 50 further than I was
running that day. It seemed
impossible. What was I
getting myself into? Was I
crazy?
Here are two excerpts from
the information packet I
receive from the Leadville
100:
“We know for certain that
once you leave the starting
line you will be tested,
forged, ground, splattered,
ripped, tempered, and then
refined and regenerated ad
you, 100 miles later, cross
the finish line.”
“A you without limits; a you
that now is aware of the
inexhaustible well of
resolve, determination and
courage that is within you.
And we hope if we can
provide the trail that makes
a better you, you’ll share
that with others along your
separate and individual
lives.”
So I finished the Collegiate
Peaks race in 10 hours and
19 minutes. Considering my
lack of training, I was
pleased to finish mid pack.
I look forward to my next
race, the Dirty 30 trail run
in Golden, Colorado on June
6th. It will be great
training for the next big
run, 24 Hrs of Laramie,
which I plan to complete 75
miles. Hopefully the snow
will melt soon, so that I
can start training in
altitude
Mission
................................
To follow the example of our
lord & Saviour Jesus Christ
in standing with the
oppressed, establish united
family structure alleviate
poverty & suffering around
the world
................................
Vision
................................
To improve the living
standards of human beings
through training,
education,counselling &
diverse rehabilitation
activities covering HIV/AIDS
and other social concerns
................................
Core Values
• We save lives
• We are Christians
• We are accountable
• We stand with the
oppressed
• We love children and
cherish their lives
• We support the welfare of
families to establish a
stable nation
• We stand against the horns
of immorality, sickness,
death and poverty
He is a seasoned international humanitarian worker who holds degrees in administration, and a diploma in theology. He has a wealth of experience in humanitarian activities involving relief activities, drought and refugee operations, food aid programming, commodity accounting, logistics, administration, management and data.
He worked for 11 years with the United Nations , World Food Program where he covered Pakistan, Afghanistan and Kenya and 3 years with World Vision in Kenya and Zambia. Under his leadership RI has earned credibility in the region.
Program Director - Mrs. Mercy Chidi:
Mercy Chidi Ogbonna holds a Bachelor
of Arts graduate from Nairobi
University. She has 12 years
experience in program designing and
implementation from prior experience
working with international
humanitarian organizations amongst
them German Agro Action/Kenya
freedom from hunger and Catholic
Relief Services in project design,
implementation, monitoring and
evaluation.
With this experience, Mercy provides
leadership and direction to Ripples
International programs that range
from HIV/AIDS prevention, care for
the affected and infected, Rescue
and rehabilitation of abandoned
babies of below one year, Rescue,
shelter and rehabilitation of
sexually abuse girls of below 17
years, health care services, care
and support for orphans and other
vulnerable children, advocacy for
gender based violence just to
mention a few. Her technical support
in anchored in quality assurance for
all the services that RI provides
With over 7 years in senior
leadership position that requires
motivation, building teamwork and
harnessing human resources, Mercy
experience has included human and
financial resource mobilization,
operations and accountability.
Under her program leadership, RI has
grown and now attracts funding from
both local and international donors.
It is now celebrated as one of the
most vibrant programs in the region,
addressing diverse needs with
emphasis on care for orphans and
vulnerable children, families and
the communities. Mercy has been key
note speaker in several forums in
USA and is a mentor to a growing
number of young women leaders.
Govering
Bodies
How Ripples International is
governed
Trustees:
The highest organ in the
organization is made up of Ten
(10) members of various
nationalities; Four (4)
Americans, Four(4) Kenyans,
One(1) Briton and One(1)
Nigerian.
Governing Board:
Thirteen (13) Members: Term is 2
Years. Core Roles:
Accountability, Governance,
Strategic Planning and Resource
Mobilization.
Executive Board of Governors:
3 Members. This is the internal
executive council that comprises
the Governing Board Chair
Person, Treasurer and Secretary.
Directors:
2 Members: Currently the
Founders of the organization who
are the vision carriers manage
the organization on a day to day
basis.
Core Leadership:
5 Members being The 2 Directors,
The Senior Program Officer, The
accountant and The Officer In
Charge Health Sector. They are
responsible for checks and
balances and overall management.
Department Heads
Leadership Team:
- 4 Members Comprises of Senior
Program Officer, Officer In
charge-Health Sector, HR/Admin
Officer, Project Officer. They
manage the projects within RI
and report directly to the
Senior Program Officer and the
Directors.
Staff and Volunteers:
- 52 staff and 3 International
volunteers. Work directly with
beneficiaries in programs and
reports directly to department
heads. The number is on the rise
and may vary from time to time.
Community Volunteers:
154 Members. Provides grass root
support for program execution.
They report directly to the RI
staff in program related matters
and to the Chief in
administrative matters.
Carolyn
Holden Leadville Trail 100 run
Fundraiser
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