Run With A Cause - By: Justin Davis

For many people, running is always included as a tool used in conditioning exercises especially in the world of sports. There are numerous benefits that can be gained from running aside from the fact that it improves muscle tone, mass and strength. Running exercises are not just beneficial to health but also to interpersonal relationships and social awareness such as running for organizations causes or advocacies.

Marathon has been used by some personalities or public figures in relating the advocacies and principles that they are fighting for. Some of the famous runners for a cause include Terry Fox, a Canadian athlete, a humanitarian, a national hero and a leg amputee who embarked on a running expedition in Canada in an attempt to raise funds for cancer victims and research and increase awareness among citizens. However, due the advanced stage of his cancer, he ended his quest after 143 days and after covering 5,373 kilometers.

Although he may have succumbed to the disease, his efforts were not wasted because he did not only leave a lasting legacy to the people but has also increased a significant awareness among people from all walks of life. These days, since 1991, the annual Terry Fox Run, in honor of his sacrifices, is held in over 60 countries with an estimated millions of participants in an effort to generate more funds for cancer research, is considered the largest one-day fundraising event ever. He has numerous awards tied to his name such as the nations top sportsman for the 1980 Lou Marsh Award, Canadas Newsmaker of the Year and among others.

In 2004, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill had amateur athletes run for a cause one Sunday to support mental health-related activities. This generated about $6,500 to be used in the construction of drop-in housing facilities, transportation, food and recreation for the mentally ill individuals.

Recently in the Philippines, a local television network company, spearheaded a marathon attended by a vast majority of its local entertainment talents, employees and Filipino citizens, dubbed as 10-10-10 in an attempt to raise funds for the clean-up drive for Pasig River, relocation and housing facilities for the displaced riverbank residents and create an increasing awareness of the effects of indiscriminate throwing of garbage into the river.

Running, thus, has helped every individual not only in maintaining an optimum level of care but also in shaping the history and culture of a nation. If you have a cause in mind that will surely benefit the whole world in general, then let the world know about it by embarking on a running activity by starting in your own community.

About the Author

Be it for a cause or just passion for running, invite a group of friends to the Indianapolis 5k races and unleash the running enthusiast in you. More over, joining Indianapolis half marathon will absolutely keep you fit and will look younger than your age.

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