A native of Brazil, Laura has lived in Idaho with her husband for the past four years, working at an outdoor-equipment shop in Ketchum. She had spent two years off and on in Vancouver before relocating to the United States. Laura has traveled extensively, having visited Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, Australia and Tahiti.

Laura has a unique relationship to the water cause. In Brazil, some areas are without clean drinking water, and so one of the reasons Laura is taking part in the Blue Planet Run is to help communities like those she saw while growing up.

Living in Ketchum has helped fuel Laura’s enthusiasm for outdoor activity. In addition to running, she also enjoys mountain biking, swimming, hiking and backpacking. Laura fits exercise into her schedule each morning before going to work and will sometimes bike ride again in the afternoon. She also finds time to watch movies and read; her favorite book is The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende.

Laura learned about the Blue Planet Run in an outdoor magazine; both the cause it addressed and the travel involved appealed to her. Seeing new places and cultures is one of the aspects of the run that excites her most. Laura cites the support of her husband and family, along with the flexibility of her work situation, as the biggest factor in her decision to take part.