My Story
Hello!
My name is Grace Wilkins, and I am going to run a Marathon.
I never thought that I would be saying (or writing out) those words, but this year I decided to commit to doing something that challenges and pushes me outside of my comfort zone. So, I have signed up to run Grandma's Marathon 2026 - my first ever marathon.
Duluth is such a special place. I had been travelling through the city to northern MN since I was little to visit family, made it my home while I attended the University of MN-Duluth for undergraduate studies, and ran my first half marathon in the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon in 2017. Since my first half, I have run a total of three more all a part of the Grandma's Marathon Weekend events (the Garry Bjorklund Half 2018, 2019, and 2025). In 2026, my first marathon will be Grandma's Marathon.
In 2025, I had an amazing opportunity to run as a charity partner for Save the Boundary Waters, my first time running as a charity partner for any organization. I loved that I could run, have fun at an amazing event, and make a difference. It's because of my experience last year that I have decided to run as a charity partner again with Save the Boundary Waters - not only to make an impact, but also to make my first marathon that much more special and memorable.
If you don't know about Save the Boundary Waters, they are an environmental non-profit working to permanently protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota. You can learn more about them on their website: https://www.savetheboundarywaters.org/
Going to the boundary waters is something that my family has done for a long time. As a kid, I loved canoeing, fishing, and hiking in the BWCA and adjacent wilderness with my family and friends. As an adult, some of my most cherished memories are in the boundary waters (I got engaged in the BWCA on Snowbank Lake in 2020).
Any amount, big or small, will make a difference in preserving the beautiful wild places of MN and beyond. Help me reach my $500 fundraising goal and get to the starting line of first marathon by donating today!
All proceeds will go directly to Save the Boundary Waters.
Description
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is an undeveloped 1.1 million-acre federal and state-recognized Wilderness Area. It is an expanse of lakes, rivers, and forests in the Superior National Forest, located along the Minnesota-Canada border, that has been protected by statute and international treaty for more than a century. This is the sixth most critical region in the lower 48 to protect for climate resiliency and contains 20% of all the freshwater in the entire National Forest System. The water in the Boundary Waters is so clean, you can dip your cup and drink straight from the lake.
Save the Boundary Waters is the locally-based, national campaign led by Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness based in Ely, Minnesota dedicated to permanently protecting America’s most beloved Wilderness Area – the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Recent donors
| Donation date | Donor name | Donation amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 09 | Anonymous | $20.00 |
