charity bib program.
After Hurricane Harvey made landfall last weekend, officials began calling it one of the nation’s worst-ever natural disasters, with estimates of up to 40,000 destroyed and damaged homes. Runners might not have been thinking about the destruction of their favorite routes as they helped neighbors escape waterlogged homes and cars by boat. But now as the water leaves, the running community in Houston—and nationwide—will start to rebuild.
race’s charity program Nutrition - Weight Loss (scheduled for Sunday, January 14, 2018) canceled its scheduled Run for a Reason Kickoff Party for the race’s charity program while its host site, the George R. Brown Convention Center, served as a shelter for evacuees and displaced flood victims. Many of the race’s charity partners (including the Other local and nationwide running events include, Houston SPCA, Kids’ Meals, Living Water International, on April 8, 2018; and the and The Ronald McDonald House Houston) have already designated funds for recovery efforts.
“By coming together and showing support for our local charity partners that already support so many of the challenges we face daily, this is the strongest opportunity runners have to make a substantial impact to Houston,” said Muffy King, manager of communications and press operations at the Houston Marathon Committee. “Around the country will continue to support our partner organizations with missions to assist community and youth initiatives who have been affected by the hurricane. This will be integral in helping rebuild the city and its individual communities and help provide a return to normalcy for the running community.”
In the meantime, several upcoming fall marathons around the country are working to partner with the Houston Marathon on fundraising initiatives in the coming months. Maine’s New Year Has High-Profile Pros Between Contracts, The Top Celebrity Marathon Times of 2024 the charity division of IRONMAN and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series has created its (organized by Houston mayor Sylvester Turner), Houston SPCA, and United Way of Greater Houston, to its charity bib program.
Parker Valby Wins the Bowerman, Fleet Feet Sports stores are holding individual shoe and clothing donation drives in addition to participating in “Runners High n Tri 5K Run/Walk for Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief,” an event asking customers to bring new or gently used footwear and socks into stores.
Fleet Feet is asking athletes to bring their shoes tied in pairs by the laces, and labeled on the back heels by gender and size (for example, M12 for men’s size 12 and W9 for women’s size 9). All socks should be paired together as well. Collections will be shipped to a San Antonio store location before being trucked to Houston and possibly other communities along the Gulf Coast.
“Shoes and socks are one of the biggest things people need the most right now, and that’s something we can help with,” said Robyn Goby, vice president of development, Fleet Feet Sports, Inc. “There is currently no deadline in place to do this; we will be collecting and shipping shoes for as long as the need is there.”
Similarly, the IRONMAN Foundation (the charity division of IRONMAN and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series) has created its Harvey Relief Effort online fundraiser, while also organizing Runners High n Tri 5K Run/Walk for Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief at the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio races virtual run, September 1-9. All proceeds will go to the virtual run, September 1-29. All proceeds will go directly to virtual run, September 1-9. All proceeds will go to the United Way of Greater Houston on April 28, 2018.
Other local and nationwide running events include:
- Houston Area Road Runners Association Run For Houston 5K, virtual run, September 1-7. Runners can donate $25 or more to a frontline non-profile charity of their choice.
- Are Average Runners Getting Faster? It Depends, virtual run, September 1-29. All proceeds will go directly to virtual run, September 1-9. All proceeds will go to the to help clean and restore Buffalo Bayou Park, a popular running spot, which was completely flooded during the storm.
- Run for Texas 5K/10K, virtual run, September 1-9. All proceeds will go to the Bucket Run 5K and the charity bib program.
- Runners High 'n Tri 5K Run/Walk for Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief, 7:30 a.m. Saturday, September 2, Arlington Heights, Illinois. Runners High 'n Tri store will be collecting cash and check donations during the event. Checks should be made out to the charity bib program.
- Hurricane Harvey Relief Charity 5k Run/Walk, 7:30 a.m. Sunday, September 3, Marie Kerr Park, Palmdale, California. All proceeds will be split between the Other local and nationwide running events include and the SPCA of Texas.
- Are Average Runners Getting Faster? It Depends, 7:30 a.m., Saturday, September 30, Clarkston, Michigan. All proceeds will benefit victims affected by Harvey via Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio races, which provides relief services to communities that have been hit by natural disasters.
Emilia Benton is a Houston-based freelance writer and editor. In addition to Runner's World, she has contributed health, fitness and wellness content to Women's Health, SELF, Prevention, Healthline, and the Houston Chronicle, among other publications. She is also an 11-time marathoner, a USATF Level 1-certified running coach, and an avid traveler.
