Top Internet Marketer Charise Carter Set To Do A 5K Run To Raise Awareness With Run for Congo Women

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) October 7, 2008 -- October 6, 2008 - More people have died in the war going on in the Democratic Republic of Congo than in World War II. 5.8 million people have lost their lives and almost half of them were children under five. Women in Congo are targeted daily for sexual slavery, torture, and brutal gang rape. Children as young as 3 and the elderly are not even spared. Despite this horrific violence, the situation in the Congo receives almost no media coverage and many are not even aware that this conflict is even happening.

"I learned about the massive scope of this mind numbing horror through an online networking group I'm a part of which led me to the www.RunForCongoWomen.org site. First I could barely get through the videos on the site, the 60 Minutes report with Anderson Cooper or the heart-wrenching articles."

"I just cried at the horrific atrocities against these beautiful women and children. It just broke my heart and angered me. Even now, it's hard for me to imagine what they've endured without tears welling up in my eyes so rather than try to put it out of my mind, I decided I had to do something positive, anything I could, to help."

Charise decided to take her lead from Lisa Shannon, a woman in Portland, Oregon, who did a solo 30 mile run in 2005 after seeing an Oprah Show about the situation in the Congo. The run helped raise money to support women and their families in the Congo through Women for Women International. The sponsorship program provides women with income-generating job skills, rights awareness, emotional support, and financial assistance.

Charise says, "I plan to complete the 5K here in Chicago on October 11 and while the typical goal for participants is to raise enough money to sponsor one woman ($27 per month) per mile. That's really the minimum. It's my intention and prayer to surpass that and to continue to raise awareness and support after the event."

"While I'm not really a runner except for chasing my 2 year old around the house, I'm pretty good at internet marketing so I know how to get the word out especially when I'm passionate about something and these women and children matter. That's why I'm getting involved."

It's all about raising awareness. The world can no longer stand aside and let the Congo bleed. "Now that you know, you can't pretend you didn't hear it", Oprah Winfrey said on her show.

Charise continues, "I believe we have a responsibility to do what we can. So, I just want to encourage people to get involved in whatever way they can. Tell someone. Spread the word. I found out about the Run here in Chicago on an event message board and I've told family, friends, sent notices to my mailing lists and online social networks. I know that I can help a lot more of the women indirectly than I can directly. It's not just about what you can do. It's what the MANY can do together."

Websites:

www.ChariseCarter.com
www.RunForCongoWomen.org
www.WomenForWomenInternational.org

charise carter     lisa shannon     run for congo women chicago     women for women international