Local runner raising money for United Way of Mat-Su

WASILLA — Outside Michele Harmeling’s work as an outreach coordinator for United Way Mat-Su, she’s an avid runner.

“It’s kind of my jam,” Harmeling said.

Harmeling decided to combine two things she holds dearly by putting on her own fundraising campaign over Facebook. She’s preparing to embark on a 100-mile run hoping to raise $1,000 to donate right back to supporting United Way’s ongoing efforts supporting local individuals and families with a variety of services.

“We’re trying to reach the entirety of the Valley with all kinds of different programs, all kinds of different services that sort of lift people up and make the Mat-Su a better place,” Harmeling said. “To me, it’s a way of extending our reach.”

This fundraiser is a personal effort that Harmeling intends to do on her own time. She said that it seemed like a fun way to raise awareness and extra funds for United Way off the clock, knowing that every little bit helps the organization do valuable work in the community.

“It’s a little bit hard to keep the lights on for a lot of nonprofits these days. So, I thought kind of do my part in a little more of a unique way to help out. Sometimes watching your friends suffer through a grueling physical activity compels you to reward them somehow. So I thought I’d give it a shot,” Harmeling said with a laugh. “We’ve got some fairly big projects that need to be completed, some parks and playground improvements that need to go in by fall kind of before the snow flies, and I just wanted to kind of test it out and put it out there and see if we can get some good community support going so those things happen.”

Harmeling named her personal running campaign 100 Miles for a Better Mat-Su. She said that she plans to participate in the Resurrection Pass Ultra Trail Races at the end of July for her fundraising run.

Harmeling said that she first got into running in high school and participated in the occasional 5K and other races until 2017, when she ran her first Ultra Marathon. After that, she was hooked. She’s now an active member of the running community, participating in numerous events each year.

“It’s a completely different world… There’s sort of a recurring story of what happens when you push the human limit and thereby learn more about the human condition,” Harmeling said.

Harmeling has raised $475 of her $1,000 goal as of Thursday, July 8. To sponsor her run with an online donation, visit the 100 Miles for a Better Mat-Su pledge page at facebook.com/donate/ 249222616640870/10100411624658322.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com