In February 2007 I embarked on an eight week road trip from Sacramento to New Orleans in an effort to raise money and awareness for the rebuilding of New Orleans. I raised money for New Orleans area nonprofits with donations from both individuals and businesses. My journey lead me to various cities throughout the country and inspired my fellow Americans to move as well.

This trip was a book tour for my book, The Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women: Get off your butt and on with your training. Through the book and the tour I hope to inspire people to MOVE - their minds, bodies and spirits. I want you all to get involved in your physical fitness but also your community. Anything that you want to change, get up move towards that change. The name of the trip is Dream in Motion. Because what's the point of dreams if you aren't going to put them in motion. 

My trip, tour, book and New Orleans volunteer effort are all a part of me putting my dreams in motion. How are you going to put yours in motion?

Why listen to me? Good question.

Who is this strange person demanding you break a sweat? (Besides an expert painter, as you can see from the picture to the left.) I’m no one special really. And that’s the point. I’m not rich, I’m not famous and I too have a general aversion to all things calorie-burning. But when I saw the images of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina I decided I wanted to help in anyway I could. I can’t write a million dollar check but I can give my time. So in June of last year I led a team of 18 out to Louisiana and spent a week trying to help build a better future for some of the people affected by Katrina. (I also spent a week trying not to die of heat stroke (holy humidity batman))

Then in November I led a smaller group back to New Orleans to build some more. This time we built right in the middle of a destroyed neighborhood. More than a year later this neighborhood still looked like a warzone; homes in shambles, no stores opened nearby, playgrounds far from a safe place for kids to play. The destruction in New Orleans is overwhelming and vast and nearly impossible to describe with words. This doesn’t seem right to me. It breaks my heart. But more than that it pisses me off.

But instead of sitting around complaining about all the things that should/could be done I thought I’d just do something myself. Something big. And that’s where you all come in. No, I’m not rich, and I’m not famous, I’m just like all of you. I’m just a normal person who thinks that if we really wanted to us normal people could change the world. Or at least change our little part of it.
 


Although my tour is over there is still a need for volunteers in New Orleans. If you go out there to help rebuild I promise you it will be hard work, that you will be sore in places you didn’t know you had, that you will be more tired than you thought possible, and that you will probably end up hammering your thumb at least three times. But I also promise you that helping others is about the best way I’ve ever found to help yourself. (Although, to be honest, I have really yet to find any redeeming aspect to hammering your thumb. (Besides the invention of new cuss words.))

So get off your butt. Join me on the road to rebuilding New Orleans. Let's dream. In motion.

Me:

My name is Dawn Dais and I am a writer and graphic designer from Sacramento, California. I wrote a book about moving your butt and then I moved my butt around the country to promote it.

I am currentlly moving my butt via bicycle. My next tale of spandex and sweat will hit the stores next year. If I don't hit a tree or squirrel first...

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