Run For All Women Surpasses $100k Donation For Planned Parenthood on 240-Mile Run to Washington DC's Women's March

NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Run For All Women, a running initiative created to support women and provide a hedge against political efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, has successfully raised over $101,525 in just 20 days - more than double their original goal, as of Jan. 23, 2017. Alison Mariella Désir was one of 4 women that led the 240-mile relay from Harlem, New York to Washington, DC from January 18th - 21st. Hundreds of runners and supporters along the way donated supplies, food, time and encouragement to the Run For All Women team.

The original fundraising amount - $44,000 - was chosen to honor the 44th President, Barack Obama. The Run For All Women team has quickly received immense support and solidarity (from all over the world), which has allowed them to spread the word so quickly.

"Looking to defund Planned Parenthood is a huge threat to women. I wanted to send a message through this run that we are here; that we are going to continue to make our voices heard, and that there's power in just a small idea," explains Désir in an interview with MSNBC's AM JOY.

Stations were set up every 4 miles along the 240-mile relay to allow other runners to join the journey, cheer and show support. The run passed through New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland, ending at Women's March in DC 2 hours ahead of schedule.

Jami Gobao, one of the event runners, Baltimore mobilizers and supporters who ran the 40-mile journey from Baltimore to Washington DC, described the event as "a surreal, empowering experience that puts in perspective the power of change. This event was a reminder not to be complacent, and that each person, each woman, has the ability to be the change."

Désir hopes to use this newly created platform to continue to engage, build relationships, and provide support for the next four years during Trump's presidency and beyond.

The Run For All Women GoFundMe page, which will be accepting donations for Planned Parenthood through February 1st, can be viewed here: https://www.gofundme.com/4Women4AllWomen

Follow Run For All Women on Twitter @run4allwomen - https://twitter.com/run4allwomen 
#4WomenRunForAllWomen #Run4AllWomen

For more information on Planned Parenthood, visit https://www.plannedparenthood.org

SOURCE Run For All Women