New Jersey Native Builds Triathlon Team to Support Women and Children in Nepal

July 21, 2017 -This weekend, for the fourth year in a row, supporters of the BlinkNow Foundation will join other athletes to compete in the New Jersey State Triathlon. At the age of 16, New Jersey Native, Olivia Christmann, started the Tri For Kopila triathlon team to raise money for The BlinkNow Foundation - A Children’s home and school started by Mendham high school graduate and 2015 CNN Hero of the year, Maggie Doyne.

The 2017 Tri For Kopila team has grown to 25 athletes and additional volunteers. This year, the team is raising money for a community playground in Surkhet, Nepal. The team’s goal is to raise a total of $25,000 for a piece of property located across the street from the Kopila Valley School. The final playground will include a safe boundary, track, soccer field and play area. This project is important to the organization because it will provide a safe play space for the Kopila Valley School students and other community children.

In the past three years, Tri For Kopila fundraisers have raised more than $38,000 to support BlinkNow. Every year the Tri For Kopila team is comprised of people of all ages and abilities with different connections to the organization. Being a part of the team allows supporters of the BlinkNow community the unique opportunity to race alongside members of the BlinkNow team.

This year’s team is led by Olivia Christmann (founder and training coordinator), Jill Kendrick (participant coordinator), and Brian Jendryka (fundraising coordinator). The team is supported by many participants from the Mendham community, including the superintendent of the Mendham schools and students from the Mendham Middle School.

The BlinkNow Foundation

The BlinkNow Foundation provides an education and a loving, caring home for orphaned, impoverished and at-risk children. The organization also provides community outreach to reduce poverty, empower women, improve health, and encourage sustainability and social justice. The Foundation fulfills its mission by providing financial support and management oversight to the Children’s Home and Kopila Valley School in Surkhet, Nepal. In addition to the home and school, there is a Health Clinic and a Women’s Center to serve the community.

BlinkNow Information

• Facebook: BlinkNow, Maggie Doyne
• Instagram: @BlinkNowOrg, @maggiedoyne
• Twitter: @BlinkNow
• Donate: my.blinknow.org