Lexington, Ky – May 15, 2019 – Across the nation people are doing their part to stay apart, and for those eager to get moving, a virtual race provides the ability to kick-start fitness goals while coming together for a cause. On May 5, Brooke USA, a 501(c)3 dedicated to alleviating the suffering of working equines and the people who depend on them globally, launched its first virtual race. Leave your footprint and help a hoofprint with Brooke USA’s Virtual Race: Between a Walk & a Hard Place. Every dollar raised will directly benefit Brooke USA’s COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund, and with your help, Brooke USA will continue to make a difference in the lives of humans and equines worldwide.

Registration is open at www.CharityFootprints.com/BrookeUSA.

This global initiative is simple to support, and participants can complete it on their own schedule over the course of eight weeks. The goal is to raise funds for the people and animals affected by the aftermath of COVID-19, as well as walk over 140,000,000 steps as a sign of unity and global generosity. The eight-week fitness challenge allows for registrants to not only have their own fundraising page, race chat and teams, but also converts workouts to steps. From Pilates to running, and horseback riding to weightlifting, the Brooke USA Virtual Race encourages fitness for every level, and on any schedule while raising funds and awareness for a cause.

The registration fee is $50, and proceeds benefit Brooke USA’s COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund. The fee includes a finisher’s t-shirt, which will be sent to the participant by mail at the conclusion of the challenge. Brooke USA has assisted with disaster relief in the United States during times of emergency, and in light of COVID-19, the team will once again step up to make a difference by opening the fund to applicants in the U.S. and worldwide.

Since COVID-19 made its way stateside, everyone’s lives have changed dramatically, and this new reality has brought uncertainty to the projects and programs that Brooke USA funds through its grants. To counteract the escalation of poverty and lack of resources in the developing world, Brooke USA is gearing up for the aftermath that is sure to follow in the wake of COVID-19. Brooke USA has set a goal of $100,000 to raise for its COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund, which the virtual race directly supports. For many of the people and animals Brooke USA serves, things will only get worse before they get better. Your donation and/or registration will impact lives.

The race can be completed in whatever way is most enjoyable. For example:

• Donate to the race or to an individual/team.
• Run or walk with your dog.
• Use a treadmill or elliptical.
• Practice downward dog while taking a yoga class.
• Dance around the house or take a virtual Zumba class.
• Garden or go for a swim.

The possibilities are endless.

How does it work?

STEP 1: Register for Brooke USA’s fitness challenge at www.CharityFootprints.com/BrookeUSA. Your registration fee of $50 is a donation to Brooke USA, and at the end of the challenge you will receive a commemorative shirt for your effort and support.

STEP 2: You are registered! Now it is time to download the app and spread the news. Since we are using technology a little bit more today than ever before, let’s lean on it, and rock with it! Tell everyone you know that you signed up for a virtual race and they can support you by joining the race or donating through your personal webpage. Use social media, email, and text messages. You probably already have a few friends in mind who would not mind a little fitness fun. Well, this is the perfect opportunity to put the “FUN” in fundraising and start moving together.

STEP 3: Track your workout exercise of choice (anywhere you are) on the website or by downloading the Charity Footprints App. (It also syncs with your Fitbit, Apple Watch, MisFit, Strava, Google Fit, or Garmin.) Any workout can be converted to steps, and together we will fill in our virtual map by earning 140,000,000 steps. The journey kicks off in Lexington, Kentucky and continues through Brooke USA funded projects in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Cuba, Senegal, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nepal, Pakistan, and India.

The more steps you take, the further we go as a team!

Registration is currently open and will continue until the end of June.  It does not matter if your friends and family want to join in week one or week six, every step counts and every donation helps Brooke USA tip the scales as the organization prepares to tackle the repercussions of COVID-19. Register at www.charityfootprints.com/brookeusa.  For any questions regarding the virtual place, please email Kendall.bierer@brookeusa.org.