Home > Lifestyle > 4th Annual Fit For Her MPLS Recap

4th Annual Fit For Her MPLS Recap

Recapping my favorite event of the year, Fit For Her MPLS! This year we raised over $11,000 in partnership with The Her Initiative and Healing Waters International in an effort to end the the global water crisis!

Video Credit: Meghan Bakken of Story Bloom Videography 

*If you’re having trouble seeing the video above, try turning off or pausing your ad-blocker. If you prefer, you can also view this Fit For Her MPLS video on YouTube here.

Fit for Her MPLS has been my little passion project since I dreamed it up over 4 years ago, with the first event taking place in 2015. I had know idea that it would eventually lead me to the Dominican Republic, to running a marathon in Haiti, three amazing subsequent Fit for Her MPLS Events {2016, 2017, 2018, and this year’s 2019 event}, and over $36,000 raised to help end the global water crisis. 

And none of this could’ve been accomplished without the amazing and supportive community of woman who attended, contributed and did so much to makes these events possible. THANK YOU!

And a special thanks to The Real Food RD’s who’ve come alongside me to partner on this event.

Fit for Her MPLS 2018 Clean Water Project Update

Before I jump into fully recapping this year’s 2019 event, I have to share the impact the funds raised from last year’s 2018 event have made. IT’S INCREDIBLE.

As I previously mentioned, I had the opportunity to travel to Haiti in October 2018. I teamed up with Healing Waters and Bryce of Run 5050 to run a marathon through the mountains of Haiti in an effort to raise additional funds for clean water.

On this trip I also had the opportunity to visit the clean water project site in Bainet, Haiti that Fit for Her MPLS 2018 fully funded {$16,000}! Seeing it all come full circle, from raising the funds to the impact one clean water system makes on an entire community, was a dream come true. 

I wish you all could’ve been on this trip with me. Because witnessing the life-changing difference clean water brings to a community in need brought a whole new meaning to what Fit for Her MPLS is all about.

Last year’s Fit for Her MPLS event fully funded the water project in Bainet, Haiti — which as you can see via the project report above, has provided this community with over 36,000 gallons of clean water and saved local families on average $1,684 each year — IN JUST 6 MONTHS of operation! WAHOO!

The best part is these numbers are only going to continue to grow in the months and years to come. This clean water project in Bainet, Haiti will continue to make waves, creating positive change in the lives of women, children, and communities for years to come.

Fit for Her MPLS 2019

So we did it again in 2019! On Saturday, March 2, over 100 women gathered to sweat, snack, and shop for clean water.

I always look forward to Fit for Her MPLS and spending time with this group of socially-conscious women, who took time out of their busy lives to SHOW UP, sweat, and support women around the world.

We didi a 45-minute HIIT workout, talked about the life-changing work The Her Initiative and Healing Waters are doing, raffled off some AMAZING gift baskets, sipped coffee, enjoyed lots of healthy treats, and…

RAISED over $11,000!

From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone that attended, supported, and contributed to this event. You’ve truly made a difference in ending the global water crisis in our lifetime.

A special thank you to our major brand sponsors: 

• Organic Valley
• Primal Kitchen 
• Simply Organic 
• The Neu Neu 

Fit for Her MPLS 2019 Event Sponsors + Vendors

This event would not have been possible without the generous support of our event sponsors, vendors, raffle donors, food and beverage sponsors, and media team.

Major Event Sponsors: 

• Organic Valley
• Primal Kitchen
• Simply Organic
• The Neu Neu

Food + Beverage Sponsors: 

• Corner Coffee
• Organic Valley
• Justin’s
• Bare Snacks
• LARABAR
• DripDrop
• Spoon Optional
• Spindrift

Vendors: 

• Primal Kitchen
• ThisFem
• Kisa Boutique
• The Glow Lounge
• American Heart Association – Minnesota
• Momboss 5K powered by Covey Events
• The Bar Method Twin Cities
• Big Raven Yoga
• Alchemy 365
• Core Lifestyle Clinic
• Lake State Kombucha
• April Peterson Massage
• Tres Sports
• Surrender Salmon

Raffle Donors: 

• Organic Valley
• Primal Kitchen
• Simply Organic
• ThisFem
• The Glow Lounge
• Momboss 5K powered by Covey Events
• The Bar Method Twin Cities
• Big Raven Yoga
• Alchemy 365
• Core Lifestyle Clinic
• Lake State Kombucha
• Fabletics
• Justin’s
• Bare Snacks
• Daily Harvest
• Paleo Powder
• Projects in Person – PIP
• MEND Jewelry
• Chris Freytag Get Healthy U
• Spoon Optional
• YogaFit Studios
• Fly Feet Running
• NOW Foods
• Purity Coffee
• Heather Whelpley
• Green Chef
• LARABAR
• Gorilla Mats
• Fiercely Fetching

Event Photography + Videography:

• Photos: By Rebecca Studios
• Video: Meghan Bakken

The Global Water Crisis

The thing that SO INSPIRES ME about the global water crisis is that there is a solution. 

Issues like this one feel insurmountable and overwhelming when you’re just looking at the big picture — like the fact that every 90 seconds a child dies from a water-related disease.

But together, this community has fully funded over 2 clean water projects, which has transformed the lives of hundreds around the world; just reference the infographic above.

That said, there are still 1.8 billion people in the world drinking dirty water. There’s clearly a need for more clean water sites throughout the world. If you’d like to contribute to ending the global water crisis you can learn more by visiting The Her Initiative and Healing Waters International.

You can also click here to make a direct financial contribution, or join the Saturate Community by becoming a monthly donor here.

Fueled by Water Campaign

Since several of you were asking about these custom ‘Fueled by Water’ shirts at the event, I wanted to include a quick note on their purpose and how you can purchase one if you’d like.

I have a goal of selling 1,000 of these custom Bonfire sweatshirts, tees, and tanks to raise $15,000 which will in turn fully fund a Healing Waters clean water project for a community in need. Over 500+ shirts have been purchased to date so we are half-way to goal.

If you’d like to get a ‘Fueled by Water’ sweatshirt, tee or tank CLICK HERE!

About The Her Initiative + Healing Waters International 

Women are the leaders of their communities. They bear and raise the children, care for the home, and work outside the home to provide for their families.

In developing countries the water they drink is often unsafe, containing bacteria and parasites that cause constant illness. The lack of safe water has locked many women into a cycle of poverty. It’s a serious issue of injustice, one that Healing Waters is working to solve through The Her Initiative.

The Her Initiative provides access to clean water and specific health & hygiene curriculum to women in the developing world. It is an initiative to get women here supporting women there.

Final Thank You!

Again, thank you to everyone who showed up, supported, contributed, volunteered, and more! This event is so near and dear to my heart and always the highlight of my year. THANK YOU!