VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Forty hours straight. That's how long a Virginia Beach woman plans to run this weekend to raise money for a cause close to her heart.
Ashley Horner, a professional fitness competitor, is taking on the grueling feat for the Maison Fortune Orphanage in Haiti.
"Whether I'm running, walking or even crawling, I'm not going to stop," Horner said.
The orphanage has about 220 boys and girls from kindergarten through high school.
The money she raises through this run will help support one of the orphanage's main goals of education.
"I believe - and the same with the orphanage - that in order to turn a third world country around, you have to start with education. You have to have good strong leaders there to help with the problems of a third world country like Haiti," Horner said.
She's been working to raise money and awareness for the orphanage for the past five years.
This run is to celebrate its 20th anniversary. It was originally supposed to take place in Haiti. Although the location has changed, her fundraising goal has stayed the same.
She hopes to raise $100,000 by getting people to run with her virtually and make a donation.
"It doesn't matter if you can run a mile. It doesn't matter if you want to run for time," Horner said, "just pledge to run something with me and to donate a little bit of money."
Click here if you'd like to learn more and support her effort.
