Regina Fleming, even as a young girl, has always embraced and exhibited a spirit of camaraderie and leadership in her daily activities. That’s why the Queens, New York, native loved being a Brownie in her local Girl Scout troop where she worked hard to earn badges and enjoy the fun of being a Girl Scout. Now she is channeling her competitive nature and philanthropic passion to give back to the nonprofit organization that she has fond memories of and is a part of the inspirational success story that she is now. Specifically, Fleming will run the New York City Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 3, to raise $5,000 for the girls’ organization that builds women of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. To date, Fleming has participated in 15 marathons and more than 100 races worldwide.
“The Girl Scouts’ values and purpose aligns with my own,” said Fleming. “When my sorority sister Elicia Pegues Spearman approached me to help fundraise for the Connecticut Council, I jumped at the chance to make this important charity the beneficiary of my upcoming marathon so that it can continue creating and implementing impactful programs that are shaping our future female leaders.”
Fleming explains that her running journey began accidentally when she thought she registered for a simple fun run, only to find out that it was a half marathon. After training for only 10 days, she finished the race and discovered her passion for running.
“Once I received my first medal, I was hooked,” she recalls. “That moment transformed me from a novice runner into a determined athlete and I haven’t looked back.”
Since then, Fleming has earned the coveted Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Finisher medal, an honor that few marathon runners have achieved and allowed her and other finishers to be enter in the 2023 Guinness World Records.
Prior to her running career, Fleming graduated from St. John’s University with a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice. As an alternative to attending law school, she began modeling and was signed by the prestigious Wilhelmina Models and later, Ford Models in New York City. She went on to pursue a passion of photography and graduated cum laude from Fashion Institute of Technology, earning an associate’s degree in photography. Today, she is the founder of the award-winning studio, Regina Fleming Photography.
Fleming’s marathon running has supported a range of charitable causes, including New York Road Runners, Team for Kids, the National Parkinson’s Foundation, Grassroots Soccer and Action for Southern Africia.
To help Fleming exceed her fundraising goal for GSOFCT, visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/reginathequeen.
Spearman emphasizes that donations directly support the four pillars inherent to Girl Scouting – STEAM, Life Skills, Entrepreneurship and Outdoors – and are earmarked for all GSOFCT programs for its 26,000+ members, including camping, exploring science, selling products, earning badges, going on trips, and doing community service.
