Scott Hendrickson

I’m writing to ask for your support as I embark on a physical and spiritual journey to raise awareness, funds, and prayers for orphans and mothers in India who are suffering from HIV/AIDS.  We have been training hard to build up our mental and physical strength to run 4 half marathons (13.2 miles each – Total 52.4 miles) over a 5-week period this fall.  Our group has been training every Saturday and during the week to build up the endurance to run these races for a great cause. Your personal donation or corporate sponsorship is tax deductible, and 100 percent of the donations go directly to the orphans and mothers in need.  I hope that you will prayerfully consider a donation and / or prayer.  Personally, I have never been or wanted to be a “runner”.   The last three years I’ve sat on the sidelines but chickened out just before the sign-up with one excuse or another.  This year God lead me and called me to get o the couch and make a difference.

After my first .25 mile of a 2-mile run in May, I could barely breathe and my calves and legs were killing me.  I almost quit.  However, my good friend Mike stayed with me step by step and encouraged me until I crossed the finish line (last of course).  Afterwards, I felt great and then thought about the kids who have limited medicine, resources, extremely difficult conditions, and socially struggle to be accepted because they have HIV-AIDS.  I was reminded that I’m doing this to help those in need and me enduring a little pain was nothing compared to those who we are running for.  I was all in!  

My training and endurance has increased, and we have upped our training mileage to anywhere from 5 to 11 miles. The journey has been peaceful, spiritual, rewarding, and healthy.  My dogs Potter and McCall now join me on the runs.  It has been so much fun jogging along the Boise River and taking in the serenity of the landscape.  My daughter Avery has joined her middle school cross country team, and I am looking forward to spending more quality time outdoors with the family as well.   

Isaiah 40:31 "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint 

Fiftytwo.four is a 501(c)3 community based non-profit organization. We operate solely on lots of amazing volunteers and donations. Any overhead costs (which are very minimal) are covered through designated donations of our board of directors. We are a very grassroots organization full of lots of amazing people that just simply want to use their lives to make a difference in lives of a lot of beautiful children in India that need our help. 100% of the money that we raise is sent to the organization that we support in India. Our money is specifically designated for the endless needs of HIV/AIDS orphans. It covers anything and everything pertaining to the needs of HIV/AIDS orphans but is designated each year based on where the greatest need is. Some ways that our funds have been spent in the past 14 years: medical needs, nutritious foods, education costs, medicine, building costs for new HIV/AIDS facilities/orphanages, vehicles to transport the children.