My name is Shannon Carey, and I'm a teacher at MetWest High School in Oakland, California, and I am raising money for 10 student entry fees for the Oakland Half Marathon.

 

MetWest students have successfully run the Oakland Half Marathon (13.1 miles!) for four years; we train three times a week around beautiful Lake Merritt. Most of the students signed up have never run more than two miles before they start training, and our slow, steady training program allows them to build stamina, strength, and, most importantly, confidence.

 

I teach this Half Marathon running class because I firmly believe that running benefits teenagers' physical and mental health. With the pandemic causing or revealing substantial mental health challenges in teenagers, I believe it is essential to provide young people with another way to handle sadness, stress, and anxiety and develop healthy coping mechanisms that they can carry with them into their postsecondary lives.

 

In previous years, students who had completed the half marathon have felt a deep sense of accomplishment and pride. C.G, who ran the 2017 Half Marathon with us, writes that "I had had never been a runner prior to our running club. I feel very fortunate to have been a part of it and to have had the chance to participate in the Oakland Half for two reasons. Firstly, I now work in state government (which can be very stressful) and so I jog the Capitol mall every evening to clear my mind. Secondly, the Oakland half was something that we had trained for, every day, for weeks. Because of this, when we completed the half, we both felt an extremely deep sense of pride in ourselves and what we had accomplished. It was a great lesson on hard work and what one can achieve with it."

 

The money we raise will go to the entry fees. Any extra money will allow students who do not have quality running gear to buy running shoes and shorts.

 

Thank you so much for considering donating to our MetWest runners. They are a magnifcent bunch, and we very much appreciate your support!