The ???? ???Women's March on Washington is fast-approaching, and if you don't already have travel plans booked to D.C. you might consider running there.
Alison Desir is a running coach, the founder of Harlem Run, and a contributor to Women’s Runningmagazine. After she reflected on the negative implications Donald Trump's political administration could have for women, members of the LQBTQ community and America as a whole, she decided it was time to take a stand -- or should we say, a sprint.
Desir, 31, came up with a unique and powerful way to raise money and awareness for Planned Parenthood while showing "the awesome power of women:" Running the 240 miles from New York City to the national's capital to attend the March.
SEE ALSO: Here's why you'll be seeing pink 'pussyhats' during the Women's March on Washington"I read somewhere, 'No one person can change the world, but we can each do our part,'" Desir wrote on her GoFundMe page, entitled, (Four Women) Run For ALL Women. "...I (and a small team) will begin a 240-mile run from Harlem to Washington, D.C. ... There will be four of us running, but we’ll be running for all of us."
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Since the GoFundMe page was created on Jan. 2, over 100 inspired women have reached out to Desir expressing a desire to participate in the run.
While Desir wrote that there will still be a core group of women present for the entire trip, she decided to transform the effort into a relay to accommodate the popular demand, allowing people from different areas to sign up for a leg of the run and participate along the way. Men are more than welcome to participate as well.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the campaign had already raised an impressive $44,312, surpassing its $44,000 goal, which was set to honor America's 44th President, Barack Obama.
"We reached our goal just in time for President Obama’s farewell speech. So, Mr. President, if you are watching (and I hope you are) thank you being an inspiration and providing so much hope!" Desir wrote.
The 240-mile adventure through New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland will begin on Jan. 18 at 6:00 p.m. ET. The charted route is expected to give the women ample amount of time to arrive at the National Mall in D.C. on Saturday morning and participate in the march.
View route map for 4 Women Run 4 All Women Route 3 on plotaroute.com
Desir hopes the action will inspire women to use their own passions to make a difference.
"I hope that women will see that there are many ways to be active/political/make a difference," Desir told Mashablevia email. "Letter writing may not be for you, calling your local representatives may not be for you, but there are certainly ways that all women can take a stand and have a voice. Running just happens to be mine."
In addition to Desir's run, women across America are making other efforts to have their voices heard, ranging from the Pussyhat Project to an additional Women's March that Chelsea Handler will lead down Main Street in Park City, Utah, during the Sundance Film Festival.
UPDATE: Jan. 17, 2017, 9:25 a.m. EST Updated with comments from Desir.
Featured Video For You
J.K. Rowling weighs in hard on the Donald Trump/Meryl Streep feud