The Mission
Run for Change was founded by a local runner named Benji Chu in 2009 and is aimed at introducing low-income, shelter, recovery and homeless people living in Vancouver’s Downtown East side to a healthier active lifestyle through running. Run for Change works in partnership with a number of community organizations to make this happen, including Mission Possible, the Carnegie Community Centre and First United Church.
As a tool of empowerment, running provides participants with an opportunity to set goals, build their confidence and make positive life changes. Our primary mission is really to provide shelter, low-income, recovery and homeless people with a viable community that supports their path to a better life. Some of the volunteers assisting with the program are actually former shelter residents who can understand participants’ unique needs and serve as an invaluable network of support. Run for Change also provides running shoes and running clothes to those that need them.
To ensure that participants have a training goal that motivates them to come out and run or walk, Run for Change has held an annual a 5km Fun Run in August since 2010 that is free of charge to participants. This annual run, organized with members of Vancouver’s running community and community stakeholders in the DTES, provides people with an opportunity to set a goal and feel better about their health and themselves. All participants receive a medal in recognition of their achievement.
Starting in 2010, Run for Change also led a 13-week training clinic to help prepare shelter and low-income residents in the DTES to run or walk the Vancouver Sun Run.
For more information about Run for Change, check out the video below.
