It didn’t take long for Sarah Fountain to realize that she was in for more than a few miles after starting her #RunForVayotsDzor fundraiser. At the beginning of Farm-to-Bottle, she pledged to run one mile for every $10 donated. $958 later, she is ready to run from Yeghegnadzor, just miles from the birthplace of winemaking, to Yerevan’s Republic Square, to symbolize the growth of the grape grower/winemaker culture in Southern Armenia.

News about her fundraiser spread quickly. Some donated, several wished her good luck, and a unique group emerged to provide a different kind of support. This Saturday, November 11, five runners will join Sarah for the entire 100 mile run from Southern Armenia to Yerevan.

The group will be supported by Savage of Sevan and TriClub Yerevan, Armenia’s team of endurance athletes, who will drive alongside the runners for the entire distance. While the group is united by a common love of running, each of them have a different reason for taking on a distance of this magnitude. The 1A team asked each of them why they #RunForVayotsDzor.

Sarah Fountain

“I’m running 100 miles to give back to the country that has already given me so much, in the best way I know how: by running.”

Naira Margaryan

“I’m running 100 miles because I was born in Southern Armenia. I am running for my Armenia. My Vayots Dzor.”

Andranik Margaryan

“I’m running 100 miles for fun, to show that anything is possible!”

Suren Kazhoyan

“I’m running 100 miles to prove that I can, to redefine humanly possible.”

Armen Zakaryan

“I am running 100 miles to help, to find myself as well as inspire others and show that nothing is impossible.”

Manuk Petrosyan

“I’m running 100 miles to draw the world’s attention to my homeland. To run is to live.”

One Mile At A Time

The Run for Vayots Dzor will mark eleven days since the end of Farm-to-Bottle, which surpassed its fundraising goal of 101%. The group will leave from Yeghegnadzor this Saturday morning, and finish around mid-day on Sunday. Follow their progress on the 1A Facebook page!