Dayna Boshard is no stranger to fundraising or demanding physical challenges. From her home in southern Utah, she shares how in 2022 she completed a 29029 challenge. While the physical aspect was absolutely tough, she flexed and grew some additional skills when she set a goal to raise over $30,000 as part of that endeavor. She accomplished both, raising $34,000 for Eternal Hope International (EHI).
This January, as she was signing up for a charity bib for Vacation Races' Zion Ultras, she checked the box acknowledging that she would fundraise at least $1,000 for a charity of her choice. A checkbox that ultimately prompted her to think, "What about more? Could I make this a monthly thing?" and so began the several-day scramble to turn one event charity bib into a year-long challenge. And that is how "Circuits and Summits" was created.
Boshard decided that over the course of the year, she would complete six circuits and six summits, one per month, to raise awareness and funds for EHI. Not one to shy away from a challenge, when selecting her summits, she picked Mt. Elbert, the highest peak in Colorado, Boundary Peak, the highest elevation point in Nevada, Mt. Whitney, the highest point in California, Mt. Charleston, and Mount Holly, with the addition of Delano Peak.
For her circuits, the criteria she set for herself were that the course either be a circuit or have a circuit within it. It could be part of a race or not, but it needs to be at least a half-marathon distance. In addition to Zion Ultras, she has the Cactus to Clouds trail in Palm Springs, where she'll gain 10,500 feet of elevation over the course of 19 miles.
While the physical challenges Boshard has set for herself are impressive, and the pieces are coming together, like receiving her Mt. Whitney permit in March, the fundraising aspect is equally powerful. She plans to raise another $66,000 for EHI.
Boshard recalls living in Provo 7 years ago when a neighbor introduced her to Eternal Hope International's Executive Director. She went to a presentation to hear her speak and was immediately drawn into the cause. Based in Nepal, Dr. Usha, employed at a hospital in the Bagmati Province, noticed the conditions of the children living in the poorest slums every day on her walk to work. Until one day, she decided to do something about it, enlisting the help of a fellow doctor and teachers.
Their mission is "creating independence and a better future through education for some of the poorest children in the world." They teach in slums and on the streets and provide health care, vitamins, food, and menstrual hygiene training and kits. They want to change the world one educated child at a time.
For Boshard, the $66,000+ she aims to fundraise will support three program areas. Menstrual Health kits and classes for young women, adding plumbing and electrical courses to a job skills training initiative that supports young adults in learning sewing, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and other means of supporting themselves, and structural repair and modifications to schools to add or restore student bathrooms.
While the goals are large and cover vast areas of support, Boshard shared that $10 is all it takes to impact one student. That's the cost to cover a young woman's menstrual health kit and course. Without these resources and education, girls and women are often prohibited from participating in school or work and, in rural areas, even shunned to outbuildings by their families during their monthly cycle. The kits provide women with reusable pads, and the course provides essential health information that is typically unavailable due to the taboo nature of the topic.
Every donation is significant, and without a doubt, the impact Boshard will make for EHI with Circuits and Summits will change countless lives. Given her background in using adventures to peer-to-peer fundraise, we asked her what advice she'd give to someone considering a big challenge: "It has to be something you're passionate about and something you can believe in. I just think people love the energy behind somebody who is authentically passionate about a cause. It doesn't matter what it is; it has to start within you. And then… you just have to start."
To follow along on this challenge or to learn more you can visit Boshard’s website at: www.circuitsandsummits.com
Running Activism Happenings
Boston Marathon’s annual Giving Day on March 20th brought in a whopping $1.87 million for 176 charities this year. The largest day ever. Currently over 2,800 champions have collectively raised over $35 million for 289 charities. Less than a month to go, we can’t wait to see where totals land on race day!
Look at that leaderboard… we’ll of course be watching to see who wins the 129th Boston Marathon, but these fundraisers and their charities have already won in our minds. Oboz Trails for Trees Challenge - In April, Oboz will plant one tree for every mile hiked and logged in the Trails for Tree Challenge. If you were planning out getting out this spring, seems like an easy way to turn your steps into something good!
IRunFar recently shared about how trail running races are being impacted by federal layoffs. We appreciate the information and the call out of how we can all support these places and events while running.
