Editor’s note: Great Bend Tribune employee Daniel Kiewel, whose column appears regularly on these pages, is raising money for two local charities. Instead of his regular column, we are publishing his fundraising letter that explains the upcoming events.

Dear Family and Friends,
Happy Holidays!
My name is Daniel Kiewel. I am a competitive distance runner from Great Bend, Kansas.
In nearly five years as a distance runner, I have witnessed first-hand the power of the Lord to transform both individual lives, and entire communities, through this sport that I am so passionate about. It has taught me about character, self-discipline and perseverance, but more so has taught me the importance of community.
Because of this, I would like to use the abilities the Lord has given me as a runner to help support and raise awareness for organizations within my community that share my passion for seeing lives and communities transformed through the love of Jesus Christ.
I am writing you today to ask for your assistance in this endeavor.
On April 26, 2015, I will be competing in the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon in Oklahoma City, OK, in support of the Central Kansas Dream Center in Great Bend, Kansas, a ministry that offers a second chance to those who have dealt with the hardship of addiction, and helps individuals transform their lives, described in their mission statement, “Reaching the Hurting, Restoring Families and Realizing Dreams.” I am currently in the process of training for this race.
Then on June 21, 2015, I will be competing in the Estes Park Half-Marathon in Estes Park, Colorado, in support of the Family Crisis Center of Great Bend, a local ministry dedicated to supporting and aiding victims of domestic and sexual violence.
Please consider helping me support these organizations. Perhaps you could be a per-mile sponsor for one or both of my races- donating $13, $26 or $39. Or, if you are a business owner, perhaps you could come on board as a corporate sponsor. CareRunners has different levels of corporate sponsorship ranging from $100-$300, and includes extensive nationwide advertisement for your business. No matter the size of the donation, every bit helps. Even a small donation could have a huge impact.
If you are unable to help financially, I ask for your prayer support for not only myself, but these ministries, as well. Also, please pass this along to anyone you know who would be interested in supporting this mission.
If you would like to donate or simply find out more about these ministries and their missions, please visit www.carerunners.com. There you will find donation links, as well as links to the ministries mentioned above.
If you would like to learn more about me and follow me on this journey, please visit me on Facebook or on my blog at www.breakthetape312.com. If you have any further questions about this, I would be glad to answer them. I can be reached by email at ampd4jesus@yahoo.com, and by phone at 620-797-0172.
Thank you for your time and assistance with this request.
 
Daniel Kiewel is a Youth Sponsor at CrossPoint Church in Great Bend. He maintains a blog and daily devotional at www.breakthetape312.com. He can be reached by email at ampd4jesus@yahoo.com.