Those looking to recharge their batteries after a hectic few days in the capital should head to Cornwall, the sunniest part of the UK, for beaches a-plenty.  You’ll never be more than 16 miles from the sea anywhere in Cornwall and where there are beaches, there are beach bars.  Here’s our pick of the best of them…

Drinks on the Beach

If you’re looking for great surfing without the huge crowds of Newquay, consider Perranporth just eight miles further down the coast, home to The Watering Hole.  What began more than thirty years ago as a place to hire surfboards and deckchairs is now the UK’s only bar on the beach.  Where better for a chilled pint of local cider after a day in the surf or a steaming hot chocolate after a bracing winter walk along the sand?

Laid Back Cool

The Sennen Cove gem, The Beach Restaurant, was named one of the top five beach bars in the world by The Guardian in 2006 and as soon as you catch a glimpse of the sea you’ll understand why.  Sennen Cove itself is all turquoise waters and golden sand, probably not what you’d expect from a British beach, but come sundown you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else with a cocktail in hand.

Relaxed nightlife

If you’re looking for somewhere to while away the small hours, look no further than Blue Bar at Porthtowan beach.  This local favourite enjoys an enviable position overlooking the beach and holds regular live music events throughout the year so it’s a great place for a chilled night out.  Head back to your Cornish holiday cottage and continue your holiday in style.  To search their website click here and you could soon be planning your very own trip across the pond!

A Taste of Local Life

Ok, so The Sloop Inn isn’t on the beach but it does overlook the pretty St Ives’ harbour and only a cobbled square separates you from the sea.  This local favourite has been here since the seventeenth century and is frequented by locals, fishermen and artists throughout the year so you’re to experience a real Cornish night here.  Travel in January and take advantage of the half price beer sale or just enjoy refreshing local ales any time of year.

Photo Credit

Sennen Cove: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossburton/4854086633/sizes/z/in/photostream/

Sunset: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jazza2/5893635691/sizes/z/in/photostream/

A sensory overload sets in while taking in the sights cruising along Rio de Janeiro’s stunning coastline.  Skin glistens in the warmth of the sun, while hair blows freely in the breeze, all scents and sounds are magnified. No, you’re not cruising along the beach in a convertible; you’re coasting high up above it in a hang glider! 

Where to Fly

Hang gliding can be done just about anywhere in the world where there is a steep enough slope relatively free from obstructions that also faces the wind. There are also special apparatus that allow gliders to be launched in the absence of a steep slope. One of the most popular places for hang gliding is Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. So it is no surprise that there are a number of companies operating within close proximity to one another. Asa Delta (www.jpvoo.com) is one such tour operator, and the one that guided me on my first flight. Their pilots are insured, adhere to strict safety regulations, and are certified by the Brazilian Hang Gliding Association. Upon landing, the guides sometimes offer customers a taste of local flavor with Açai drinks on Pepino beach.

Booking Basics

No prior experience is necessary for a tandem introductory flight. Most anyone can do it, with the exception of persons with serious medical conditions, those who are pregnant, or weigh over 210 pounds. Participants are advised to bring sunscreen, wear tennis shoes, and comfortable clothing. Although the cost varies by instructor, it is usually about $100 in most places. The price typically includes equipment rental, guide, and transportation. It is advised to book in advance, and confirm the flight time beforehand, since bookings may be delayed or cancelled due to sudden changes in weather. Many companies offer packages that include tours to other popular sights like the Botanical Gardens, Sugarloaf Mountain, and more. For those staying within the main areas of Ipanema, and Copacabana, a roundtrip ride from one’s hotel to Pedra Bonita’s take off ramp 1700 feet above ground can be arranged.

Prepare for Take Off

Participants learn everything they need to know just a few minutes prior to take off.

The guide secures the harness while explaining operational instructions and safety procedures. The flight lasts about 20 minutes, depending on the participants weight and the wind conditions.

The rider is positioned beside the guide, while they are both connected to the glider by hang straps. As they run synchronically down the ramp to the edge of the cliff, the glider may drop a few feet until air lifts the wings, to freely coast with the wind. While soaring with the birds thousands of feet in the air, participants will behold spectacular views of coastal islands, Christ the Redeemer statue, Tijuca National Park and one of the world’s biggest slums, Rochina favela (which stands in stark contrast to Rio’s surrounding affluent areas).

Why Every Lost Girl Should Try It

Some might say they are not so adventurous, or are perhaps afraid of heights. As a person who once ha

d a fear ofheights myself, I can attest to the fact that hang gliding is not so scary. Unless riders fly in unfavorable conditions, they shouldn’t expect to feel the queasy sensation one feels when falling or on a roller coaster. I never felt like I was falling, instead I felt like a bird floating amongst the clouds. While the guide maneuvers and lands t

he glider, all that the participant has to do is relax, and enjoy the experience and breathtaking sights. There is no better way to see a city than with this birds eye view.

If you’re one who would never find yourself on a kiddy ride at Disneyland, much less strap yourself to
a glider thousands of feet above the ground, there is still plenty of fun and adventure to be had in this tropical metropolis. You can take a scenic ride through the National Park; explore the city, forest, beaches and everything else that this paradise has to offer.

Courtesy of Google.com

By Mona Lisa Macalino
LG Contributor

Sonoma is the perfect destination for honeymooners or couples looking for a romantic hideaway. With its Asian-inspired design and secret-garden charm, the Gaige House fits the bill for travelers looking for luxury and upscale comfort.

The Location
Sonoma is a beautiful, charming town, a sought-after destination for couples in need of a romantic getaway. Its scenery alone is magical—rows of lush vineyards go on for miles underneath a clear, blue sky. It feels like worlds away from anything, and everyone seems happy—after all, Sonoma is known as the real wine country, a less pretentious version of Napa, or so the locals say.

After a day of wine-tasting and exploring local boutiques, the Gaige House is a welcome respite, especially for couples who just want to be alone. It’s a few miles from the town square, but the small drive is definitely worth the seclusion.

Resort Amenities
All guests have access to the main house, which features a sitting room with regular refreshments (cookies, coffee, tea and water). Guests are also welcome to enjoy the complimentary Signature Breakfast and evening reception of cheese tasting in the main house.

The Gaige House has a swimming pool and hot tub, complimentary wireless Internet, computer access, concierge services and activity recommendations. For a fee, the Gaige House also offers on-site spa services.

The amenities are amazing, but what makes the suite unique are its private, outdoor locations. There is the beautiful, mini Zen garden in the middle of the room (accessible from the bathroom and sleeping area) and the quiet, outdoor sitting area in the back, outfitted with lounge chairs for couples to relax on.

One of the coolest things about rapid tech advances of the past decade is the new technologies mean that we are all documentarians. We can take beautiful shots of our trips, our vacations, our friends, and we can easily share them. It’s awesome. It’s like getting to live the best part of peoples’ lives through artful photographs and videos. But you know what one of the worst things about it is? We’re all documentarians. Every last one of us.

Sometimes when I open up Facebook, it’s like someone waged a photo war all over it and the results aren’t pretty. I love my friends, I do!, but sometimes I’m left wondering why in the world they thought I’d be interested in the hundreds out-of-focus photos of a meal they had or a statue they saw. These are folks I love, but for the love of all good things, sometimes I wish someone would take their iPhones and digital cameras away from them and firmly tell them, “No more!”

We’re all guilty of participating in this sensory overload we call “social networking,” and besides, there’s more good news. You don’t have to take photos that suck. In fact, there are some easy ways to make certain that the photos you share with the world are the not-sucky, aka “good.”

Work With What You’ve Got

You don’t have to have the world’s best SLR camera to take good, solid photographs. Many smart phones these days have cameras that are perfectly capable of taking beautiful shots. The trick is to work with what you have.

If you have invested in a high quality digital camera, please sit down and read the manual. I know that that sounds basic, but you’d be surprised how often people aren’t making the most of their expensive gear.

You’ll also want to practice with your camera in a controlled setting. Set it up and practice taking shots in both the auto and manual modes under all kinds of conditions: backlight, lowlight, moving subject, flash, no flash, etc.

If you spend some time really understanding the capabilities of your camera, you’ll have a much better shot of capturing a perfect candid in real world conditions.

If you’re going to stick to taking shots with your phone camera, you’re a bit more limited in the functionality of your camera. But, that doesn’t mean you’re going to be stuck with ugly photographs. In fact, some of the best photographers I know routinely deliver up eye-catching shots that they took with their camera phones.

The trick is to utilize some of the cool apps that are available for smart phone cameras. Of course, there’s Instagram, if you like funky, old school looking shots. It’s easy-to-use and a lot of the filters can help mitigate flaws in the original photo like overexposure or poor lighting. But it’s not the only one.

Apps like VSCO Cam, Camera+, and Camera Timer! can also be useful tools in taking your photos from blah to gorgeous. Spend some time exploring them and find one or two that best compliment your photo taking style.

Finally, if you’re not going to use a tripod, you still need to take steady shots. Nothing’s worse than an otherwise beautiful photograph that’s ruined by a shaky hand. Learn how to use your body as a tripod. Hold your arms tight against your sides and use your free hand to grasp your wrist to keep it steady. Or, take advantage of anything around you that will let you rest your camera or phone on it.

Put Some Thought into Your Photos

Beautiful photographs are photos that make the eye move around the entire image. They
have depth. Take a look at this landscape photo on Shutterstock, for instance.

To my eye, it’s stunning. Yet, there’s hardly anything happening in it. You have some trees, a rolling meadow, and some fluffy clouds, big deal, right? But still, it is a successful, beautiful shot. That’s because this photograph has depth. There are elements in the background (the clouds), the midfield (the trees), and in the foreground (the rolling hills) that force the viewer’s eye to move about the photograph. What’s more, this photo makes great use of a little trick that photographers call “The Rule of Thirds.”

Basically, The Rule of Thirds means you imagine that your shot’s frame is broken down into 9-pane segmented frames that form 9 equally sized rectangles in three rows. Instead of putting the subject of your shot smack dab in the middle of the frame, move it off to one of the gridlines to the left or right. This will help give your photograph balance.

For example, in the landscape photo, you’ll notice that the trees are positioned off to the right of the frame. It makes the viewer’s eye move around the photograph and ultimately helps make something as run-of-the-mill as a copse of trees on a hillside a lot more interesting to look at.

Get Down on Your Knees

Another secret to taking beautiful photos is to incorporate some of the unexpected into them. Instead of always taking photographs from right in front of your subject, try moving around a bit. Get down on your knees or up on a chair or move off to the side.

Take a few snaps from all kinds of angles so that you can find one that really works. Your goal is to capture photographs that are dynamic, that have action and are unexpected, so don’t be afraid to look a little foolish when you’re taking your shots.

Also, remember that human subjects oftentimes look their best when the camera is angled down a bit from above, as opposed to straight on or angled up.

Don’t be Afraid to Crop Your Photos

Or the delete button. Basically, edit yourself. Not every shot is going to be perfect, so you’ll first want to spend some time editing your photos before you post them online for everyone else to see. Choose your favorites and delete the rest.

That’s right. Delete them. Sharing photographs with your friends, family, or the larger world of moments that mean a lot to you should be like taking them on a nice little canoe ride through your memories. If you just upload all 234 mediocre shots that you took of something, you’re going to end up drowning your audience in those memories rather than engaging them.

Really be mindful of what you’re presenting to your audience. Look at your photos with a keen eye. Crop photos that have extraneous details in them like some stranger’s arm or an unsightly garbage can or a stranger mugging it up in the background or what have you. Think of each photograph as an individual composition, as a piece of art, and pay attention to the elements that really add to the beauty. Don’t be afraid to throw out the rest of it.

Though we’re not all going to be the next Ansel Adams or Annie Liebovitz, it’s really not that difficult to take photos that you can be proud of. It just takes a bit of thought and an objective eye. Now get out there and fill up your Facebook feeds and Tumblrs with some amazing imagery, I’m hungry for some eye candy.

By: James Adonis

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Anecdotally it seems people are increasingly taking Mark Twain’s advice, giving everything up to travel the world. They’re quitting their job or abandoning their business, and packing their bags instead. Seeking what, exactly, they’re not sure. Happiness maybe. Freedom probably. But is the sacrifice worth it?

Some say it’s not. The blogosphere is packed with travellers exposing the ‘myths’ associated with spending a year or more abroad.

They write about the difficulties of finding temporary work overseas and of struggling to be rehired upon their return back home. They say too much of a good thing isn’t always a good thing, and that boredom soon takes hold. And others confess how annoying it is to live out of a backpack, and how they miss their routine, their possessions, their friends.

Of course, the positive tales outnumber the negative ones. An Aussie guy who extols the benefits of pursuing your goals is Sebastian Terry.

When he was 27, the death of a mate made him realise the truth inherent in the mantra that ‘life is short’. So, he created a list of 100 things he wanted to do before he died and has been travelling the world ever since, ticking them off.

So far, among dozens of accomplishments, he has married a stranger in Las Vegas, visited an inmate on death row, and broken the world record for the most eggs crushed within 30 seconds using only his big toes.

“I’m certainly not here to say that you need to quit your job,” he tells me, “but don’t ever let fear hold you back from chasing a dream. Whether it’s travelling to the other side of the planet, jumping out of a plane with a parachute loosely strapped to your back, or indeed starting your own business, I’m yet to meet someone who’s regretted following their heart.”

That’s what Jennifer Baggett, Holly Corbett and Amanda Pressner did when they were in their late 20s. They were nearing the stage when getting promoted, married, pregnant, and mortgaged were the expected next phases of life. And they weren’t too happy about it.

On a whim they left their boyfriends, quit their jobs, and walked away from their New York apartments, opting instead for a life of travel that took them to a dozen countries throughout Africa, the Middle East, India, south-east Asia and Australia. Their adventures over the space of a year are chronicled in The Lost Girls, their book and soon-to-be television series.

I asked Amanda Presser for any advice she has for others thinking of doing the same thing. “Never let your fears that the worst will happen — that you’ll be committing career suicide, that bosses and co-workers will judge you or that your clients abandon you or leave you — rule your decision to stay home, rather than pursuing your dream of long-term travel,” she says.

“No one we know (and we’ve literally spoken with hundreds of adventurers who’ve quit jobs in the legal, business, media and artistic professions) has ever been unable to return to the career they left behind … and in many cases, they’ve returned home with the skills and confidence they need to get an even better job in the same or a new industry.”

Robert Schrader is another intrepid adventurer. He’s the creator of Leave Your Daily Hell, a website that, as the name suggests, helps those desperately wanting to flee the nine-to-five grind for the wonders of globetrotting.

A few years ago, he was living in Texas – broke, unemployed, and with a growing credit card debt. Despite those circumstances, he left the United States and arrived in China to teach English. Since then, he’s continued travelling the world, visiting 50 countries across six continents.

He cautions people to be wary of prematurely leaving their job or business. “Unless you’ve just gotten an inheritance or plan to permanently roam the globe in poverty, you’re eventually going to need to get back into something that sustains you,” he tells me.

That is, unless you develop a “location-independent income” – usually done by setting up a website from which you can sell e-books, advertising, training, or other freelance services – that enables you to earn money irrespective of where you’re based.

Easier said than done, sure, but at least it’d make for a bold New Year’s resolution.

By Mona Lisa Macalino

What’s at the top of every soon-to-be-married Lost Girl’s wedding list? Planning a fabulous and worldly honeymoon, of course. For Lost Girl’s editor Mona Lisa Macalino, her honeymoon was something she dreamed of even more than finding her wedding dress.

Her destination? The Philippines, an archipelago of over 7,000 islands. Here is her review of Shangri-La’s Resort in Boracay, the little island known for its sparkling white beaches and lively night scene.

The Location
The journey to Shangri-La is epic, an experience in itself, if you’re awake for its highlights. Our trip to paradise required nothing less than a 16-hour plane ride, an hour-long jaunt in a tiny plane, two van treks across two islands and finally, a scenic speedboat ride to Boracay. When my husband and I arrived in Shangri-La, we were jetlagged, wide-eyed and tempted to sleep for our week’s stay (luckily, we resisted).

Shangri-La Boracay is tucked away from the main part of town, which makes it perfect for honeymooners craving a little privacy.

The grounds of Shangri-La Boracay is magical, breathtaking, and (insert your idea of paradise here!). Honestly, Shangri-La lives up to its name and hype. Lush, exotic fauna decorate the resort and the glimmer of the Pacific Ocean is always in the background.

My husband and I felt like we had Shangri-La to ourselves—it was August, full-blown typhoon season in the Philippines. Yes, we saw some wet days and even got caught in a sudden downpour. But in a place like Shangri-La, the rain only added to its charm. We spent hours walking around and exploring. Our favorite spot was a grove of towering palm trees, complete with swaying hammocks and gigantic circular cushions, which offered a place to rest under the shade of large palm leaves.

Resort Amenities
Shangri-La Boracay has everything you would expect from a first-class resort—an on-site spa, five-star restaurants and bars, a fully-equipped health club, nature trails, infinity pools and retail shops selling native goods. An in-house water sports pavilion offers guests snorkeling and diving equipment, among other unique selections such as hobie cat sailing and reef walking.

Shangri-La’s two beaches—Punta Bunga Beach, which is shared with neighboring resorts and Shangri-La’s private Banyugan Beach—are the gems of the resort. The sand is white and the views of the Pacific Ocean are unobstructed (except, perhaps, by your own yellow beach umbrella). The lounge chairs have cushions, the beach-side service is impeccable and the drinks are tropical. Pure honeymoon bliss! This is where we spent the majority of our time—swimming in the warm ocean, collecting seashells and playing with the many hermit crabs making trails in the sand.

The Room
As honeymooners, it was a must for our room to be a welcome place to hide out in. The Seaview Suite (99 m.²) did not disappoint. It featured a mini bar, complimentary broadband Internet access, 24-hour in-room dining, a safety deposit box, satellite flat screen TVs, coffee and tea making machines, a selection of his and her bathrobes and slippers, and a charming pillow menu.

We had our own living room complete with a never-empty platter of tropical fruits, a bar area, a gigantic walk-in closet and bathroom, and a large, outdoor balcony overlooking Punta Bunga Beach. The balcony had a dining table for two, two lounge chairs and a Jacuzzi complete with a colorful light show and major bubbles, which our housekeeper happily set up for us.

A Wedding in Paradise
Shangri-La Boracay is also a perfect wedding destination spot that mixes the best of beach and elegance. It’s perfect for a romantic couple with a taste for luxury and a love of the beach. The crown glory of the ballrooms is the majestic Sagana Ballroom, whose tall windows, gorgeous views and Aladdin-like balcony adds to the romance. I’m already talking to my husband about doing our vow renewals here!

Island Transportation
Those wanting to venture out of Shangri-La’s grounds can either take a 10-minute complimentary shuttle to White Beach and its surrounding markets or have the resort call a tricycle, the Philippine’s fastest and cheapest way to travel around the island. If you decide to take a tricycle, do a little bargaining—the locals get a tricycle ride for 10 Philippine Pesos, while travelers are often quoted at 150 Philippine Pesos (1 US Dollar is approximately 41 Philippine Pesos).

Boracay Attractions
If you end up leaving Shangri-La, don’t miss Puka Shell Beach, a short tricycle ride away from Shangri-La. It’s markedly different from White Beach—its beach front is relatively secluded, there are only a handful of shops and restaurants on the sand, and a rainforest serves as its backdrop. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot a few curious monkeys sneaking peeks at the tourists and locals!

Another must-see in Boracay is D*Talipapa, a fresh seafood market where customers are expected to haggle and have their plunder cooked right there in the surrounding restaurants. We had our crab cooked in garlic sauce and served with rice and fresh mango smoothies. We had all of this for under $20 (though I hear we got majorly ripped off!), a price unheard of in Shangri-La’s walls. For great deals on fresh food, definitely go here.

Final Thoughts
Shangri-La is above all, the ultimate private island escape for honeymooners or travelers searching for tranquility in a beautiful setting where nature happily resides along luxurious and impressive architecture. Shangri-La is a must-see for all who have the budget for its prices (rooms go from $498 to $1726). Paradise is always worth it.

These five stories might motivate you to lace up and train for 26.2 miles—some through grit, others through humor.

By: Cathy Garrard

J.R. Martinez, U.S. Army veteran, actor, and Dancing with the Stars champion

Severely burned on 34 percent of his body in 2003 while deployed in Iraq, Martinez has since traveled the country to share his powerful message of resilience. He will start as the last runner in the marathon, and Timex will donate $1 to New York Road Runners’ Youth Programs for every runner he passes along the route. His book, Full of Heart: My Story of Survival, Strength and Spirit, will be published on October 30.

Jordan Fried, running on Fred’s Team to raise money for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

For Fried, a lacrosse player at HofstraUniversity, the fundraising is deeply personal. He battled leukemia at the tender age of three and was cancer-free two years later. He was treated at Sloan-Kettering at the same time running legend and NYC marathon co-founder Fred Lebow was there jogging the hallways during his own cancer treatment. This will be his third NYC Marathon, and his personal record is 3:13.

Daniel Gravelle, running with the Runaway Bridesmaids team to help fight sex trafficking

Talk about being tough: Daniel Gravelle has run a marathon on every continent, including Antarctica. This NYC marathon will be his 15th, and he is running it alongside his wife, Nancy Yeomans, on what also happens to be the six-year anniversary of when they ran the Athens marathon together on their honeymoon in Greece. He’s running not only to celebrate, but also to do good: Dan will be part of a team called the Runaway Bridesmaids and will be running with five other women in a dress to raise money to build a shelter for the kids of sex workers.

Adam Chataway, running to support Action Aid/Vicky’s Water Project

After his wife died in a cycling accident while working in Ethopia on water projects, Chataway wanted to honor her by continuing her charitable legacy. To help raise money to build a school, he has committed to run six International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) marathons on six continents inside 30 days, finishing up with the New York City Marathon. By November 4, he will have completed the Buenos Aires Marathon, Melbourne Marathon, Beijing Marathon, Nairobi Marathon and Dublin Marathon—the latter two in consecutive days.

Nick Kypreos, member of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers

It’s been 15 years since the former left winger trained as a pro athlete, and nearly two decades since he was on New York’s center stage during the city’s last hockey championship. As you might expect, the transition between an ice rink and the pavement isn’t easy. “This type of training is like nothing I’ve experienced before,” he says. “I’m honored to be returning to New York to participate in one of its greatest events.”

So Sandy has come and (mostly) gone, but many of us are still feeling her effects. Whether you’re still waiting for the return of power and the receding of the frankenstormian waters or, like me, you have been fortunate to live in an area that escaped Sandy’s grip, your thoughts may be turning to how you can help those who have been hit the hardest.

Chances are you have participated in a charity race or other athletic event before. The top 30 largest athletic fundraising events raised a grand total of $1.69 billion last year alone, according to an annual study by the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council. For some of us, that meant writing a check for a $30 race entry with the proceeds supporting a chosen cause. Others have taken the next step to go out and solicit donations for a cause meaningful to them.

My friend Holly Corbett and her two co-creators of thelostgirls.com travel blog and co-authors of the accompanying book by the same name recently cooked up the idea to recruit women (and men) to break out those worn-once bridesmaid dresses and run a race wearing them while raising money for a good cause. Their charitable invention, the Runaway Bridesmaids (lostgirlsworld.com/runawaybridesmaids/), raised over $7,000 for New Light, a shelter for kids of sex workers in India’s largest red light district, at New York City’s Fifth Avenue Mile in September. Sandy permitting, they’ll be back at it—and multiplying their race distance by 26.2—in this weekend’s New York City Marathon.

Meanwhile, five years into his quest, 33-year-old New Yorker Robert Reffkin who I interviewed for a story on ESPN.com this week has run 50 marathons and raised nearly a million dollars for a variety of charities including one he founded, New York Needs You (newyorkneedsyou.org), which provides career mentorship to first generation college students. What impressed me the most: He has raised all that money, $912,000 and counting, through his friends and family (and presumably friends of friends) alone. Talk about networking.

And I can’t forget Jordan Sheridan, the local high school softball player I had the opportunity to write about last spring for another ESPN story. Jordan, her school’s ace pitcher dreamed up a campaign to “Strike Out Hunger” by collecting pledges for every batter she struck out over the course of the season and donate the money to Syracuse’ Samaritan Center. She raised $3,723.75 in year one as a sophomore and $11,449.35 in year two of the program. I can’t wait to see how she does this spring.

But an e-mail I got this morning from BloodSweatAndCheers.com reminded me that you don’t have to sign up for a race to turn your workouts into dollars for a cause. They featured a new app, GiveGo that, when it launches in December, will allow you to sign up pledges so you raise money every time you bike, run or walk. Not a bad way to give back (and stay motivated) around the holidays.

Have you ever used fitness as a catalyst for fundraising? Do you feel comfortable asking others to contribute to a cause or do you prefer to write a check yourself? What’s your favorite charity to support?

Stay dry and safe out there!

Natalie

More than five years ago I was working in magazines in New York City. I really loved my job, but also felt the itch that there was more to life than spending 60 hours a week inside a cubicle. So along with two friends, I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and explore the world beyond the office walls. Together the three of us dubbed ourselves The Lost Girls and embarked upon a yearlong, 60,000-mile journey across the globe.

One of our most life-changing trip experiences happened when we volunteered through Village Volunteers at a school in Kenya and worked with pre-teen girls. Some of the girls had been raped on their walk to school. Some had lost one or both parents to AIDS. Some would have had little other choice but prostitution if they could not continue going to school. I wanted to help girls in need have a shot at an education and other opportunities that we were fortunate enough to have simply due to chance and geography. But I had no idea how, as only one woman, I could make a real impact.

Then I read the book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, and learned that roughly three million women and girls worldwide are victims of this modern-day slave trade — and many die in their late 20s of AIDS. (In comparison, the peak year of the trans-Atlantic African slave trade was just under 80,000).

I was really inspired when I read about one woman who was making a real difference in the lives of women and girls: Urmi Basu decided to fight back while others stood by. She founded New Light, an organization that gives shelter to the kids of sex workers in India’s largest red light district. She used her savings and grants to build shelters for the kids of sex workers to help prevent another generation of under-age sex workers. It turns out that New Light is a partner of Village Volunteers, the organization that we volunteered with in Kenya.

Urmi’s story reminded me that we can all do something — big or small — to make this world we live in a better place. We can each play a part in shedding light on the darkness — be it poverty, pollution, or — a cause I’m personally passionate about — fighting sex trafficking. So I decided to use one of my passions — running — to raise money to help New Light.

At the starting line: the first Runaway Bridesmaids race in New York City. (Photo courtesy Holly Corbett)

Runaway Bridesmaids was born when my friends and I asked ourselves a question that many women have often pondered: What were we going to do with our old bridesmaid dresses that our married pals swore we could totally wear again?

Rather than let them collect dust in our closets, we decided to prove our bride friends right and zip into them again ­­— except we strapped on running shoes instead of heels to race and raise money to support Urmi and New Light. A group of about 50 men and women joined us for the first ever Runaway Bridesmaids race, a one-mile fun run in New York City on September 22, to raise more than $7,300 to help build another shelter for New Light.

Now, a team of six of us runners are gearing up to do the mother of all races, the ING New York City Marathon, on November 4, 2012. We will be running 26.2 miles in dresses, and collecting pledges to help Urmi build another much-needed shelter for women and girls.

Once people start paying attention, we can begin to solve the problem of this modern-day slave trade. Thanks to people like the Half the Sky Movement team, awareness is spreading.

Running for Urmi in a blaze of tangerine glory. (Photo courtesy Holly Corbett)

How are you going to help make the world a little better today than it was yesterday? One way you can help New Light is by taking a moment to pledge to Runaway Bridesmaids so that together we can begin to break the cycle of sexual slavery. Or follow your own passions and use them to do good, whether it’s taking a volunteer vacation or helping a child through Big Brothers Big Sisters, or baking for a sick neighbor. Whatever your talent, you can use it to touch someone else’s life for the better.

Holly Corbett is the co-founder of Runaway Bridesmaids. Connect with them on Facebook and Twitter and support their efforts to raise money for New Light.