Dec 4, 2020 | SPORTS | By Abigail Russell | Illustration by Patil Khakhamian
In early November, the Colorado College Cross Country and Track and Field teams put on a virtual fundraiser. The clever idea ultimately raised over $11,000 for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women campaign.
The team used their social media to raise awareness about the event and to ask for donations. According to their Instagram, individuals were able to make a one-time donation or pledge to donate a certain amount per mile ran by a participating Tiger athlete.
On Nov. 7, 26 CC athletes participated. Running for just an hour each, they clocked 195 miles collectively.
Megan Koch ’22, one of the event’s organizers, spoke to the exciting success of the fundraiser. “Our initial team goal was to raise $1,000, and we ended up raising over $11,000 in just over two weeks,” said Koch.
The event also contributed to a sense of community for these teams during this atypical semester. For Mar Jackson ’22, a member of the Track and Field team, “the fundraiser was a great opportunity to feel like a team again.” She felt a sense of team unity and pride on that day. “Even though we were running all around the world, we were able to raise money for a single cause and do something positive with our time,” said Jackson.
This was the first time in recent history that these teams held a fundraiser. “We initially decided to do this fundraiser because our normal season was canceled due to the pandemic,” Koch said, “but we wanted to come together as a team for a good cause.”
Koch explained that the entire team submitted organizations they were interested in supporting and then voted on which to choose. According to the team’s Instagram, “the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women Campaign is supported by Native Women’s Wilderness and functions to raise awareness for the staggering numbers of Native Women who are murdered every year.”
Given the massive success of the fundraiser, the team anticipates holding similar events in the future. Koch said, “This fundraiser showed me how large of an impact my team can make when we come together, and we are so thrilled to have been able to raise funds for and bring attention to two incredible organizations.”