SAND CREEK MASSACRE HEALING RUN

The two runners in front are carrying the staffs. The Sand Creek Massacre site is in the background, behind the trees and bluff.

One World Running was proud to be a part of the 2009 Sand Creek Massacre Spiritual Healing Run, commemorating those Native Americans killed in the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre, in southeastern Colorado. Roughly 111 Native American youth started the run, with 133 youth and adults from the Northern and Southern Arapaho Tribes receiving shoes at the end of the relay run. The Run was part of the Boulder Sesquicentennial Celebration, and afterwards, the runners returned home to the Wind River reservation in Wyoming.

The goal of the run and the entire “Coming Back Home” weekend was to show the friendship that characterized the first contacts between the Arapaho Native Americans, led by Chief Niwot (later killed at Sand Creek), and the first white gold seekers who wintered at the mouth of Boulder Canyon in 1859. In 2007, the Sand Creek Massacre area was declared a national historic site .... Many of us have felt that running is the best way to build up friendship, and we are happy to have some new friends on the Wind River reservation.

Roatan Run in Honduras

After being postponed because of an earthquake, and then the coup, the 2009 Roatan Run went off, thanks in large part to one of our volunteers, Loretta Zapp.

Gambia

We had a nice note back from The Gambia, from the kids on the softball team that received the last batch of shoes. Photos to follow when they arrive.

John Meyer of the Denver Post wrote a nice column today about the shoe project. John is the Olympic writer for the Post and has the same mindset of all of you participating in the project. Thanks to everyone who has been sending in shoes. Check out www.denverpost.com for the column.

We will have a booth at the Denver Marathon expo on Oct. 17. Please stop by and say hello.

Barefoot Ascent of Pikes Peak to Raise Funds

Michael Sandrock, a journalist and volunteer with the One World Running shoe project, will be racing Saturday's Pikes Peak Ascent barefoot, as a fundraiser for the project, which collects and distributes new and used shoes in developing nations and in the U.S.

Sandrock is collecting pledges for each mile of the ascent. The run starts in Manitou Springs, Colo., and finishes at over 14,000 feet, with over 7,000 feet in elevation gain. Money is being raised for a cargo container of shoes and medical supplies going to Haiti, to people suffering from last year's devastating hurricanes.

Sandrock, a 2:24:30 marathoner, will be running the ascent barefoot, using the Vibram Five Fingers for sole protection. Runners can drop off their shoes, of any kind, at the pre-race expo. Sandrock, author of Running with the Legends, will be speaking about the history of women's marathoning at the expo Friday night.

BIO
Michael Sandrock is an award-winning sports journalist who has been writing about running and track and field for 25 years. He covers running for the Daily Camera newspaper in Boulder, is the author of "Running with the Legends" and "Running Tough" and contributes to various national publications. Sandrock ran track and cross country for the University of Colorado, with personal best times of 2:24:30 (marathon) and 30:23 for 10K. In 1986, after racing a marathon in Cameroon, he founded One World Running (first called Shoes for Africa), a non-profit that distributes shoes and puts on races in developing nations.

Juja delivery for Kenyan, Somalian and Sudanese orphans

Patty Zishka is a medical doctor who volunteered to bring shoes to an orphanage in Juja, Kenya, a "suburb" of Nairobi roughly an hour from downtown. The orphanage is run by a German nu, Sister Luise, who has been doing wonderful work for more than 25 years. The orphanage houses, feeds and educates over 100 kids from Kenya, Somalia and Sudan. Sister Luise has another facility nearby that cares for many more kids, where we will be sending more shoes in the One World Running winter shipment.

Dr. Zishka traveled to the orphanage's clinic to support Rabbi Deborah Bronstein, who went to Juja because she knows Sister Luise. Rabbi Bronstein helped bring several "Lost Girls" of Sudan from the Juja orphanage to the United States several years ago. On this trip, Dr. Zishka took medical supplies, clothes and the shoes to the clinic's urgent care unit. A big thanks to Dr. Zishka, Rabbi Bronstein and Sister Luise, and to all of you who sent shoes that ended up helping these orphans.

Sandy Bay, Honduras

STUDENTS IN SANDY BAY, on the island of Roatan, Honduras, saw their race postponed in June because of a big earthquake 30 miles off-shore. But the 1,000 pairs of shoes arrived safely -- 600 pairs for the mainland and 400 for Sandy Bay -- and we are looking forward to rescheduling the race this fall.

"A GREAT SUCCESS"

And here is a nice note just received from Matthew Miller in Belize, who helped host students and distribute shoes in March: "We believe that your program this year was a great success! All about service, and that translates to world peace and friendship. Good work!"

City of Boulder's Youth Services Initiative

City of Boulder's Youth Services Initiative, originally uploaded by One World Running.

City of Boulder's Youth Services Initiative came and sorted and boxed shoes on May 19, with 65 local local low-income teenagers receiving shoes. They and their coach, Alex Zinga, ran and walked the Memorial Day Bolder Boulder 10K. This all part of an effort to encourage youth to exercise and live a healthy lifestyle. The YSI program started seven years ago with just four participants, and continues to grow.

Barrios, Sandrock at Lincoln Marathon May 1

Five-time world record holder Arturo Barrios, One World Running volunteer, and founder Michael Sandrock will be at a booth at the May 1 Lincoln Marathon. Please stop by and say hello, and bring your shoes to drop off, that weekend. We will be taking part with Britt Ehler's program called Running With a Reason.

MaraYateras 7k - Race Finish

MaraYateras 7k - Race Finish, originally uploaded by One World Running.

Every November shoes are sent, with a license, to Guantanamo Province. A yearly 7K race is held, started originally in conjunction with the Boulder Cuba Sister City Project. The race is a highlight for the five towns that make up the municipality of Yateras. At this race, we see once again how running is a basic way to bring people closer together, transcending country, race, religion or economic system. The 2009 race is set for Nov. 9.

Record Numbers

Congratulations to Chris Scheele for reaching his goal of becoming an Eagle Scout. Chris's Eagle Scout project was collecting, boxing and shipping shoes to One World Running. He ended up with 1,150 pairs, which were sent off in two shipments: one to Haiti, the other to Ghana.

Chris now has the record for most shoes collected by an individual in one shipment, although Jillian Roberts is closing in on him for total number of shoes.

All of us involved with the project say "Thank you" to Chris, and wish him the best in the years to come.

2008 One World Running Shoe Report

Thanks to the many people from around the nation who donated shoes in 2008, One World Running has collected, sorted and washed roughly 16,300 pairs of shoes this year. The donations range from one pair to more than 2,000 pairs. All are valuable, are all are used, and all are kept out of landfills. We try to send out one shipment per month, with smaller numbers of shoes going to needy children and adults with the help of runners and NGOs traveling to various locales.

January

The year started out with our first shipment to a Catholic school outside of Havana, Cuba. The shoes were distributed on the Feast of the Three Kings with the help of Florida businessman who travels there legally. The nuns at the school made sure that each student received a pair of shoes, as part of their holiday gift. That donation was such a success that we received a request for another shipment that included 112 pairs of baseball cleats, as well as running shoes.

February

In February, shoes were sent to Honduras, for distribution in a school for boys in Tela and Haiti, with an NGO focusing on developing solar energy.

March

Shoes were distributed outside of Kathmandu, Nepal, by a group of American trekkers and climbers who travel there yearly.

April

El Salvador The El Salvador shipment went with a larger group of volunteers from around Colorado who brought down a large amount of donations. A series of sprint races were put on at a school in the Soyopongo neighborhood of San Salvador.

May

Belize and Colombia The Belize race was done with the help of Special Olympics Belize. Ana Weir, our volunteer director, went to Belize City to put on the race. It was a big event in the country, with Ana doing TV and radio interviews. The U.S. ambassador to Belize sent us a nice letter. The 2009 Belize City race is set for March 27. Anyone wishing to come down to help out can contact ana at anaweir@yahoo.com

June

Mali, West Africa, and Ceren, El Salvador University of Colorado professor Payson Sheets brought the shoes to Ceren, where he is doing archeological work at a site called the "Pompeii of Central America," because it was covered by volcanic ash in 563 A.D. The shoes for Mali were shipped with the help of an American Airlines pilot who travels there.

July

Haiti, with the Colorado Haiti Project, which is building a school in the small town of Petit de Tropes. Boulder Road Runner Pat Petersen graciously took the shoes to Haiti.

September

Kenya Kenyan runner Peter Tanui, a former elite who now helps out runners, brought the shoes back and distributed them to school children in the Nandi Hills near Eldoret, the birthplace of so many runners and the scene of the riots earlier this year.

October

South Africa and Ghana, with the help of volunteers Josh Davis and his wife, Sarah, both runners living in Vail. The Ghana shipment was coordinated by volunteer David Pestolozzi.

November

Kenya and Yateras, Cuba. A shipment was sent down with a group of volunteers that puts on the annual MaraYateras 8K in a small town in the mountains 15 miles from Guantanamo. This community run was a big success, with close to 500 people turning out, including many kids. Shoes were also distributed at the Havana Marathon. Shoes were also distributed at a school in Kibera, a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of Nairobi.

December

Nicaragua, Haiti and the Boys' Club of Denver. A new ultra race is being put on Dec. 14 on Ometepe, the large island in the middle of Lake Nicaragua. The shoes were taken by ultra runners traveling to Ometepe, to be distributed at a children's race to be held in conjunction with the ultra. A large batch of running shoes, along with T-shirts and soccer cleats, was sent as part of a 19,000-pound shipment of humanitarian aid going to several NGOs working in Haiti. Finally, 100 pairs of shoes and 100 T-shirts donated by race director Barry Siff went to the Boys Club of Denver, to be given to inner city youth as an encouragement to exercise.

Finally, the last shipment of 2008 is set for a new Mayan cultural center near Tulum, Mexico.

Thanks again to everyone who helped, donated and contributed to these efforts this year. They are much appreciated.

Spring Break in Belize - You are Invited

We are inviting you to spend Spring break with One World Running in Belize to distribute shoes, help with community service at schools and help put on a race.

UPDATE: The 2009 race was a big success, with three distributions of more than 1,500 shoes taking place in Belize City and in two rural towns. The prime minister showed up, as well as the mayor of Belize City. Thanks to the 12 students from Ohio State who spent their spring break helping pass out shoes and put on the race.

Next year's race is set for March 22-30, 2010
The trip starts in Belize City, where we will meet up with a group from Ohio State University.

Call (303) 261-5936 or oneworldrunning@gmail.com or anaweir@yahoo.com.