To friends, family, and passionate strangers,
Many of you know that I am in the first year of my MS in Epidemiology at UCLA. Many of you also know that I love the outdoors—running, hiking, climbing, etc. Few may know that my parents also studied public health and also love the outdoors.
They sent me a selfie from the March for Science on Earth Day in Washington DC, my mom proudly carrying a sign that read "Epidemiologists March In Where Politicians Fear to Tread!" and my father "I (Heart) Health Sciences Research."
You could say the apple does not fall far from the tree. So to somehow distinguish myself from my unapologetically "healthy" parents, I have decided to take my love of public health and the outdoors one step further: by running in the Los Angeles Charity Challenge on behalf of the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.
Now in all seriousness, participating in a half-marathon has been a goal of mine for many years, and the FSPH mission is what finally prompted me to commit to training. I could go on about my passion for public education and the importance of research, but your donation is particularly important because you will be supporting my peers: the funds raised are distributed as stipends for students completing their public health internships (a requirement for all masters of public health students). Students work far and wide, facilitating health system improvements, organizing campaigns and programs to promote health and social justice, and leading research projects for governmental agencies and non-profit organizations. Your financial support not only promotes their learning, it also creates real impact.
If you have other questions about why I’m participating or where the money goes, I’d love to answer them! Send me an email at cjromano@ucla.edu. If you want to follow my running routine (or lack thereof), you can visit my updates page. Thank you for your support!