In truth, we are never really alone. Even after our loved ones have passed, we promise to be there for them. Mark Goldfarb lost two of his best friends while serving as Peace Corps Volunteers in Mozambique, but they are still together.
Alden Landis and Lena Jenison were with Mark when he returned from Mozambique and pursued a Masters at the University of Colorado, Alden and Lena were with Mark when he got a job at Water for People, and Alden and Lena are with Mark every day as he trains for the Colfax Marathon that he will run in their honor.
Alden, Lena and Mark met in 2011 as Peace Corps Volunteers. On December 20, they spent a carefree day at the beach with friends Mary Lager and Derek Roberts. Walking home, they accepted a ride from a local for the last 10 miles of their journey home. In a situation unthinkable to most of us, the driver sped away at 90 mph, lost control, rolled off the road, and sent the passengers flying.
Days later, Mark woke up in the hospital in South Africa. With a concussion and a broken back, his memory was fuzzy but he knew that he was still with his friends. Unfortunately, they were together now only in spirit. While Mark, Mary and Derek were lucky enough to survive the incident, Alden and Lena did not walk away from the accident.
Mark explains, “Since waking up at the hospital in South Africa, I have never attempted to explain why such a thing had happened, but instead have always wanted to honor these two incredible people. I decided to run the Colfax Marathon to raise awareness and funds for Water For People as it is an organization I believe is doing important work in a sustainable way. Alden, Lena, and I were unable to finish our service; therefore, the funds raised in their honor will help contribute to the important work Water For People is doing to ensure Everyone has clean water and proper sanitation Forever.”
When I met Mark less than a year later, he was still in severe pain. It hurt him to walk, let alone run; yet, that winter he regained his strength by training at Pura Vida Gym, came snowboarding with me, and later ran the Boulder Half Marathon.
As a testament to all Peace Corps Volunteers who have not made it home to share their stories, Mark is now determined to raise $100,000 from friends, family, and fans—all of which will go back to end users in the third world who enrich the lives of Peace Corps Volunteers every day. Partnering with Water for People, Mark Goldfarb promises to run the Colfax Marathon on May 18. He will prove that a car is dangerous when it speeds too fast, but a man can save lives by running as fast as he can to raise money for clean water in honor of friends that will always be together.
Mark’s campaign is about more than a race, more than himself. It is about those around him, always together, and learning to figure out #whatmovesyou. Discover more about “Estamos Juntos” and share what moves you, or join 114 other donors who are already together in this cause by donating today on their Crowdrise Page.