EASTER ISLAND MARATHON FUNDRAISER
June 2, 2019
The Easter Island Marathon is right around the corner on June 2! Courtney is running 26.2 miles on Easter Island, one of the most remote inhibited islands in the world. It's more than 1,200 miles away from the closest inhabited island and 2,180 miles from Chile, the nearest large land mass. The island is 15.3 miles by 7.6 miles.
She is running to raise awareness for literacy programs. 90% of the funds contributed will go to Seeds of Literacy in Cleveland, Ohio. Our minimum goal is $1500. Read more below and click the link to donate, share or both! Thank you!
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Easter Island Marathon - Seeds of Literacy
Easter Island, also known by islanders as Rapa Nui, lies 2,300 miles from land of any significance. A tiny speck in the middle of the South Pacific, the island is roughly triangular in shape with its rocky shores. A Chilean territory since 1888, Easter Island has a population of 4,000 who live primarily in Hanga Roa, the island’s only town. The island is known for its famous imposing stone statues (moai), which punctuate the landscape and on average stand 13 feet high and with 14 tons. (Marathon Tours)
WHY AM I RAISING MONEY ?
Captain Courtney Schoch’s journey is about owning her story and not letting it own her. Raised in an abusive environment in Atlanta followed by the decision to drop out of high school lead her down a path of poor decision making that continued for years. Courtney earned her GED in 1992 and has since overcome insurmountable obstacles encountered in both her professional and personal life.
Setting the bar high, she overcame her fear of flying and became a pilot in 2002. Two years later she was certified to teach aspiring pilots how to fly and follow their passion. In 2008, Courtney began her professional airline pilot career, in an industry where less than 4% are women. Within six years she earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Aeronautical Science with Specializations in Space Operations and Aerospace Safety Systems from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. A 2012 Women Future Leaders Scholarship award fueled her determination. In 2014, Courtney moved to Nicaragua and started a nonprofit, Runucate (run+educate), for educational scholarships and taught English in the local community while she continued to work as a pilot. She unexpectedly relocated full time to the United States in May 2018 after political unrest erupted in Central America.
Although her profession is a pilot, Courtney’s passion is her nonprofit. Through Runucate, she runs marathons globally to raise awareness and funds for organizations that fight illiteracy and provide education. A renewed focus on local communities lead her to partner and support Seeds of Literacy in Cleveland, Ohio. Her mission inspires growth and discovery in others through education and stresses the importance of mentorship by honoring everyone's story regardless of their circumstances.
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FACTS ABOUT LITERACY
66% of Cleveland residents are functionally illiterate [66% The Source of the Statistic]
Some Cleveland neighborhoods have an illiteracy rate as high as 95%
Functional illiteracy is defined as having math, reading, or language skills below a 4th grade level
At this level, people may struggle to read a bus schedule, medicine bottle or job application
An adult without a high school diploma earns 42% less than an adult with a diploma
A mother’s reading skill is the greatest determinant of her children’s future academic success, and outweighs other factors like neighborhood and family income
The percentage of adults without a high school diploma who live in poverty is twice that of those who have a high school diploma
Courtney with students at Seeds of Literacy Cleveland, Ohio 2019