To say I am stoked is an understatement. Let me explain.
Each day, I sit across an office that swirls with vision and excitement. The team directs and inner city elementary running program called the BE CHANGE RUN CLUB. It's named derived from a 100 mile run I did last year securing health care for every child on the campus of Oak Ridge Elementary in Oak Park. Currently we have secured health care for 82% of the kids, up from only 12% when we started a year ago.
When the kids returned in the Fall, they wanted a running club. One hundred percent of these kids are at least 150% below the poverty line in Sacramento's worst ghetto. Through the course of the year, the kids have achieved numerous mile stones and media recognition. They competing as 4/5/6th graders against Middle Schoolers...and in some cases winning.
NIKE's children design program has come along side and offered to allow the kids do a site tour of the Beaverton location on Tuesday, June 16th. My adult mentors and I will drive them on what is called "THE BE CHANGE : I NEVER TOUR."
Essentially we have identified 8-"I Nevers" the kids are living with: ( When we conquer it on the trip to Oregon, they will check it off.) Designed in a passport to tomorrow, the kids will have 8 boxes. The passport looks just like a travel passport. Listed inside will be:
"I have never:"
1. Been out of my neighborhood... (Sunday, Jun 14)
2. Been out of California... (Sunday, Jun 14)
3. Camped... (Sunday, Jun 14)
4. Seen the ocean...(Monday, Jun 15)
5. Owned a pair of NIKE'S (NIKE TOUR, Tues, June 16)
6. Stayed at a hotel (Tues, June 16)
7. Seen a college campus...(University of Oregon Tour)
8. Believed college was possible....
By the end of this trip, every "I Never" will have been conquered for these inner city children.
To walk on the University of Oregon track for 3 minutes or to run a single lap, something so simple, could change the destiny and birth a dream in every child.
Know someone on the "inside" at University of Oregon? Have a connection in the athletic department? You don't need to travel to be part of this miracle of motion. You can be the connector to completion.
Run with us. Tell us who you know. University of Oregon is the last hurdle.
JASON HARPER
www.bechange.cc
The Extra Mile Project
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