Canadian distance runner and Olympian Julie-Anne Staehli is famend for her success within the 5,000m, however she has additionally made a profound influence via a mission that’s near her coronary heart.
The ReRun Shoe Challenge originated in 2016 throughout a neighborhood highway race in Kingston, Ont., when Staehli and her buddy, Kurtis Marlow, realized the variety of sneakers they accumulate annually. This gave her the thought of repurposing sneakers to allow others of their bodily exercise. Staehli explains, “The mission began with a private donation to a neighborhood youth sports activities group, which sparked the thought of repurposing sneakers to make a distinction locally. With no native group devoted to donating flippantly used sneakers frequently, we took the initiative to create The ReRun Shoe Challenge.”
The first goal of ReRun is to gather flippantly used trainers which are not appropriate for working however that could possibly be worn by these with out entry to costly gear. By decreasing the variety of unused sneakers and donating them to native organizations, ReRun goals to offer sneakers with one other goal and improve the lives of others.
“Many of the recipients of sneakers are elementary faculty and school college students, however we have now additionally constructed a community with organizations like Huge Brothers and Huge Sisters to make sure the sneakers attain those that want them essentially the most,” says Staehli.
Having grown up within the small city of Lucknow, Ont., Staehli feels personally linked to this initiative; she acquired her first pair of spikes via a donation. “Making bodily exercise extra accessible and witnessing the influence, no matter who receives these donations, is actually significant,” she says.
Staehli takes delight within the mission’s meticulous choice course of, accepting flippantly used sneakers with good soles which are nonetheless appropriate for strolling or different actions. Its mission is to make sure the sneakers discover their manner into deserving arms.
A poignant second for Staehli and Marlow that bolstered their dedication to the trigger occurred at a girls’s shelter in Kingston. Staehli recollects, “We donated a whole bunch of sneakers, primarily grownup sizes, and all of the sneakers disappeared inside the hour. This highlights the immense want for sneakers in our group.”
Up to now, ReRun has collected greater than 5,500 pairs of sneakers. The mission has expanded to gather donations in three shops in Kingston, two shops in London and a number of places in Edmonton and Calgary. ReRun serves as a outstanding instance of how a easy concept and a dedication to giving again can create a long-lasting influence on communities.
By offering sneakers with a brand new lease on life, ReRun is taking strides to make bodily exercise extra accessible—one step at a time.
