This April I'm running the Run With The Wild 5K in Hood River, OR to support the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. As you may know, this cause is deeply personal to me, as my partner, Keevan, is a wildland firefighter. Every fire season he, along with thousands of others, puts his life on the line to protect our communities, forests, and watersheds. As climate change fuels longer fire seasons, more extreme conditions, and more intense fires, this work is becoming increasingly dangerous yet necessary. Despite these risks, wildland firefighters often have very limited medical coverage, and many injuries or long-term health impacts from the job are not fully covered, leaving them and their families in difficult circumstances. That is why the support provided by the Wildland Firefighter Foundation is so critical.

Leading up to the event, participants raise as much money as possible, with 100% of donations going directly to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation to help wounded firefighters and support the families of the fallen. You can also participate virtually from anywhere!

Please consider helping us raise money for the hardworking folks who keep our communities safe. If you want to learn more about what wildland firefighters experience on the line, fire ecology, and the US's land (mis)management practices, I highly recommend reading Jordan Thomas’s "When It All Burns". Whether you donate or catch Keevan and me on the finish line, your support is deeply appreciated. 

The Wildland Firefighter Foundation’s main focus is to help families of firefighters killed in the line of duty and to assist injured firefighters and their families. We honor and acknowledge past, present, and future members of the wildland firefighting community, and partner with private and interagency organizations to bring recognition to wildland firefighters.