Chau Smith

To celebrate her 70th birthday, Chau Smith ran seven marathons on seven continents on seven consecutive days - and she ran them in her pink hat made popular by the Women's March on Washington.  From January 25 to 31, 2017, Ms. Smith ran marathons in Perth, Australia; Singapore; Cairo, Egypt; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Garden City, New York; Punta Arenas, Chile; and King George Island, Antarctica.

Ms. Smith, born in Vietnam, has had a pieces of shrapnel stuck in her arm and leg as a result of the Vietnam War.  After immigrating to the United States, she worked at various jobs while simultaneously helping her four siblings' families to come to and transition to life in America.  It was during this time that she joined her husband on his runs to alleviate stress.  

When asked why she wore her pink hat during the marathons, Ms. Smith said, "I hope I don't offend anyone, but I'm a woman. I have daughters. I have a granddaughter. I run to represent the women.  I'm against any man, powerful man, who think they can do anything they want to women without our consent, without our permission."

Let's hope Ms. Smith's determination to run right after Trump's inauguration is a foreshadowing of all the minorities and women who will run for office.