Completing a mission is no easy task.  It takes a vision, coordination, dedication and a lot of prayers. Melissa Karamian, a lifelong missionary, is no stranger to the requirements. She has participated in missions trips to over 10 countries on 5 continents.  Over that time, she also knows that sometimes the mission overseas is not completed on one visit. When that happens, investments both financially and emotionally in seeing the mission through can be a stress-inducing practice.  "At the beginning of the year, I had two goals.  I wanted to help fund-raise for the young girls who were going on this years missions trip.  Also, I wanted to get in shape and was looking to do a 5K run. While searching for a 5K to run, it hit me."

As a result, she prayed and was lead to coordinate a fund-raising activity that can raise the ongoing funds necessary to continue the work in Africa year after year. The result was the Race4Love.