Help Meg raise money

As I train for my first marathon on December 1st, I’m dedicating the journey to a cause that’s greatly personal to me: raising awareness and funds for Everytown for Gun Safety. I survived a school shooting in 2017, an experience that forever shaped my view on the importance of gun violence prevention. My goal is to raise $2,500 for Everytown by race day to help prevent more families from experiencing the trauma of gun violence.

Gun violence has become the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States, surpassing even car accidents. Each year, approximately 2,600 young people lose their lives to gun-related incidents, with millions more impacted by gun violence in their communities or at school. The psychological and emotional toll of these experiences is severe, affecting students, teachers, and families alike. For Black and Latinx children, the risk is even greater, as they disproportionately experience gun violence in their schools and neighborhoods. Schools with majority-minority populations are more likely to face incidents of gunfire, underscoring the need for targeted solutions to address these disparities.

As the daughter of an educator and a friend to many parents and teachers, I see gun violence not just as a policy issue, but as one that affects every person with a child, student, or loved one in school. Everytown’s work is dedicated to creating a safer country by advocating for stronger gun laws, supporting survivors, and working within communities to promote responsible gun storage practices. Programs like Everytown’s Be SMART initiative educate parents and communities on safe gun storage practices to reduce unintentional shootings and suicides among children.

If you feel compelled to join this mission, there are many ways you can help. Donations to Everytown directly fund advocacy efforts and programs like Be SMART. Beyond financial contributions, supporting commonsense gun policies in your community and encouraging responsible storage practices can make a significant difference in keeping kids safe. For those with firearms at home, practicing safe storage by securing guns in locked spaces can be a simple but powerful step in preventing unintentional deaths.

This marathon is about resilience, community, and the drive for change, and I hope you’ll join me in supporting Everytown’s mission to make our schools and communities safer. Together, we can work towards a future where every child can feel safe at school and in their community. If you would like to contribute to my fundraiser please donate here. To learn more about Everytown’s initiatives, please visit everytown.org.

I am running in memory of Sam Strahan and for those in the Freeman Community that was affected by gun violence on September 13, 2017.

*Note: I cannot see if you donate to Everytown since you will be directly donating to their platform. If you donate please fill out this form so I can track my progress to $2,500 and thank you for your donation!*