javajog2013

The second-annual Java Jog For A Cause is taking place thisย Friday, April 25th during theย SCAA Event in Seattle. This event is a 5k/10k run/walk to raise funds for womenย coffee farmers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Java Jog was found at last year’s SCAA Event in Boston byย Kimberly Easson, Beth Ann Caspersen and Aimee Russillo, and last year they successfully raised $7,500, which they disbursed to Sopacdi, aย co-operative representing over 5,600, for projects supportingย “coffee women in the Congo who face tremendous hardship in their quest to rebuild their communities and produce great coffee.”

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This year, they hope to raise $30k, and they’ve set up a crowd-funding page to let you support running teams from some of your favorite coffee companies. Sprudge contributor Jenny Neill will be running the race–her first–and reporting back with a look at the coffee/running nexus from the coffee side.

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The Java Jog is so far an “informal initiative by a handful of volunteers,” but they are working with the Coffee Quality Instituteย (CQI), a non-profit coffee research group, to manage and distribute funds.ย They have invited three womenโ€™s groups from small farmer organizations in the DRC’s South Kivu region to submit proposals for funding, and will be distributing the funds raised to one winning proposal.ย You can read more about the conflicts facing the Democratic Republic of Congoย here, and about some of the work being done by organizations like theย Joint Marketing Initiativeย with women coffee producers in the DRCย here.

According to Java Jog:

Last year, 50% of the funds collected were invested in productive improvements by the womenโ€™s group at Sopacdi, including buying a motor for wet mill equipment, and receiving specialized training.ย  The other half was donated to a local crisis medical center to provide health services and counseling to women affected by the ongoing violence in the area.

This year, Westrock Coffee Company has signed on as the Platinum sponsor for the event, alongside sponsors Baratza, Equal Exchange, Roast Magazine, Equator Coffees & Teas, and Schluter Coffee. Many of the sponsors are fielding teams that you canย fund here, or you can fund Jenny Neill’s run, and it’s not too late to register for the event yourself. Just be ready for an early morning! The race starts atย 7:30am for the 5K Run and Walk (7:00am for the 10K Run).

For more on the intersection of coffee + running, see our earlier feature from today on coffee at the Boston Marathon, by Runner’s World Senior Editor Scott Douglas.ย 

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