RUNNING FOR A CAUSE CAN BOOST MOTIVATION

THE 21ST ANNUAL SUSAN G. KOMEN
RACE FOR THE CURE BREAST CANCER

www.coloradoan.com - Is there a special cause that is close to your heart? Perhaps it is fighting cancer, helping children, protecting the environment or advocating for animals.
Maybe there is an event that has touched you personally or one about which you feel very passionate. Examples could range from commemorating the tragedy of 9/11 to honoring someone you care about on Memorial Day. Have you ever considered using your running abilities to support a cause that is important to you? There are many opportunities to participate in events that support a variety of organizations. Running for a cause is a great way to stay motivated and it adds another dimension to your personal running goals. Several causes have huge events every year with a variety of ways to support the organization and participate. Breast cancer research is one of the biggest with races of various lengths as well as multi-day events all around the country.

There are races that benefit abused children, veterans, at-risk youth, animals, environmental causes, disease research and many more organizations doing great work.  There also are races that commemorate meaningful events. One example is the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, which is a tribute to the victims, family members and survivors of the bombing and supports the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. The Bolder Boulder is held every year on Memorial Day and you can run in memory or honor of someone. There are a variety of races all around the country honoring the victims and heroes of 9/11. Perhaps you would enjoy participating in one of the many Fourth of July races and celebrating our country’s independence and freedoms.  A few of the large organizations even have programs that will help you train for an event while also fundraising for a cause.

More than 20,000 packed downtown West Palm Beach for the 21st annual Susan G. Komen South Florida Race USA, for the Cure on Saturday morning in the USA. If there is a cause or event about which you care, there is likely a way you can combine your running with getting involved and helping. What a great opportunity to do something good for yourself while at the same time helping a worthy cause!  One of the greatest services to others is the Sankirtan movement to rescue people from this mortal world.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Śrīla Rupa Goswami, Sanatana, Raghunatha, Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati, etc., are gopis who have come for sankirtan, to preach. Then we can see that when a gopi or a manjari comes to this world, it is to accomplish this task. Sankirtan is what Mahaprabhu Himself is doing in this world. With great longing He wants to embrace all souls and he leaves all His interests when He takes sannyasi to save the others.  Krishna also says in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12 verses 6-7 that He immediately saves us if we serve Him. ... That is sankirtan. Sankirtan means total and immediate relief for oneself and for others. ... Śrīla Prabhupada insisted so much that we should preach. All his faith was put into seva and preaching, and of course in the Nama chanting and the adoration of the Deities.

Śrīla Atulananda Ācārya :
“The Moon Mahaprabhu Gauracandra”
Chat with Guru Atulananda - 16 of March 2003
http://www.vrindanews.com/chat/moon_mahaprabhu_toprint.html
http://www.atulanandadas.cl/