When Gillian was facing devastating challenges in her life, her husband, Aaron (ASP alumni), suggested she do an epic adventure to help process the grief and loss. Gillian decided to join a group of women that were aiming to be the first all-women group to run across the Namibian Desert. By Gillian’s own admission, this adventure was terrifying and she was not remotely capable of completing it when she committed to do it.
Through months of training, planning, and preparing, Gillian set out with 17 other women from 12 nationalities to run across the Namibian Desert. They collectively raised close to USD $70,000 for female survivors of war through Women on a Mission. Their mutual dedication to this cause not only pushed them beyond what they thought were their limits, but also wove the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.
The expedition covered 144km (89.5 miles) over 5 days, scalings over 4,000 meters of the some of the world’s tallest sand dunes.
Gillian said of the adventure:
“The journey was an exhilarating mix of challenge and wonder, with long days of hiking in the searing heat juxtaposed with nights camping in the biting cold and howling winds as we neared the wild Atlantic coast. Our final evening was spent beneath a canopy of stars, beside a century-old shipwreck and amidst seal colonies.”
Are you in need of something epic?
Learn more about their cause:
https://www.womenmission.com
https://womenforwomen.org.uk
Ep. 1012: How Adventure Improves Our Lives as We Age - Caroline Paul
Ep. 1011: Dog Sledding, the Iditarod, & Life in Alaska - Revisited - Kristin Knight Pace
Ep. 1010: Paddleboarding 1,000 Miles on the Yukon River - Craig Sawyer
Ep. 1009: Alaska Adventures and Packrafting - Revisited - Roman Dial
Ep. 1008: Florida Trail FKT - Hunter Leininger
Ep. 1007: My Adventure Formula - Mason Gravley
Ep. 1006: Paddling the Intracoastal Waterway - Heather Bolint
Ep. 1005: Within Weakness - Revisited - Wesley Trimble
Bonus: Curt & Mason Reflect on 1,000 Episodes
Ep. 1004: The Ohio Project - Alison Alsup
Ep. 1003: Thru-Hiking the Arizona Trail - Revisited - Jacob “Valhalla” Myers
Ep. 1002: Three Years Biking Around the World - McKenzie Barney
Ep. 1001: 76 Days Adrift at Sea in a Life Raft - Revisited - Steve Callahan
Ep. 1000: Shifting From Global to Local Adventures - Alastair Humphreys
Ep. 999: The Colorado 14ers Thru-Hike - Revisited - Junaid Dawud
Bonus Episode: Lake Okeechobee Crossing Recap
Ep. 998: First Woman to Climb the Second 7 Summits - Jenn Drummond
Ep. 997: The Colorado Crest - Revisited - Sam Chaneles
Ep. 996: Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail With Chronic Pain - Peter Conti
Ep. 995: World Champion Adventure Racer & NYT Bestseller - Revisited - Robyn Benincasa
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