Running Shoes for Students GOAL EXCEEDED!!!!!

Hello!

My name is Shana Murray and I am a 6th grade teacher in Mesa AZ. Our school has the highest poverty rate in Mesa with a 96% free and reduced lunch population. Post COVID, my students have really struggled with motivation. So, I decided to run my first marathon the Mesa Marathon on February 12th and have my students come out and help me run portions of it! We are using it as a metaphor and a physical representation of the struggles my students have already experienced, as well as struggles they are bound to face in the future.

I realized quickly after starting our in school "training" many of my students do not have shoes to run in. They are extremely worn or even the wrong size. They want to come run with me but do not have the footwear. I am looking for help so I can get my students okay running shoes so they can come help me complete my first marathon.

I am hoping this experience will stay with them for the rest of their lives. They can look back and see that despite physical and mental hardships, if you put your mind to it you can accomplish anything!