Canadian distance runner and Olympian Julie-Anne Staehli is famend for her success within the 5,000m, however she has additionally made a profound impression by way of a mission that’s near her coronary heart.
The ReRun Shoe Mission originated in 2016 throughout a neighborhood street race in Kingston, Ont., when Staehli and her pal, Kurtis Marlow, realized the variety of sneakers they accumulate annually. This gave her the concept 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 concept of repurposing sneakers to make a distinction locally. With no native group devoted to donating calmly used sneakers frequently, we took the initiative to create The ReRun Shoe Mission.”
The first goal of ReRun is to gather calmly used trainers which might be not appropriate for operating however that might 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 supply sneakers with one other goal and improve the lives of others.
“Many of the recipients of sneakers are elementary college and faculty college students, however we’ve got additionally constructed a community with organizations like Large Brothers and Large 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 obtained her first pair of spikes by way of a donation. “Making bodily exercise extra accessible and witnessing the impression, no matter who receives these donations, is actually significant,” she says.
Staehli takes satisfaction within the mission’s meticulous choice course of, accepting calmly used sneakers with good soles which might be nonetheless appropriate for strolling or different actions. Its mission is to make sure the sneakers discover their means 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 remembers, “We donated tons of of sneakers, primarily grownup sizes, and all of the sneakers disappeared inside the hour. This highlights the immense want for sneakers in our neighborhood.”
So far, 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 areas in Edmonton and Calgary. ReRun serves as a outstanding instance of how a easy thought and a dedication to giving again can create an enduring impression 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.
