Mary’s Meals Supporters Make a Run For It!
This month, Mary’s Meals supporters across three US states participated in marathons, 5K races and walks to raise funds for and awareness of our school-feeding programs
People laced up their sneakers and put their training and endurance to the test in Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and Iowa.
On May 5 in Pennsylvania, Mary’s Meals Ambassador Carlin Long led a team of 14 runners in the Pittsburgh Half-Marathon. The team raised more than $1900 as part of the 10th anniversary of the Cynthia Kitchen Project (CKP), which provides meals for children in Malawi. The project is named in honor of Carlin’s late friend, Cynthia Phillipson, whose passion project was Mary’s Meals.
“The Pittsburgh Marathon will always hold a special place in my heart, as it was the race in which my love for running and passion for Mary’s Meals first came together. It was an honor to step foot on the starting line again, but this time with 14 others who ran to honor Cynthia Rose Phillipson and the 412 children children at Chikala School in Malawi,” said Carlin.
Also on May 5, in Lincoln, Nebraska, Irish seminarian Conan McGonagle joined thousands of runners in the Lincoln Marathon on behalf of Mary’s Meals. Originally from Limavady, Co. Derry, in northern Ireland, Conan decided to run his first half-marathon back in November. He then challenged himself to train and run a full marathon just five months later, which he successfully completed! Proudly wearing his Mary’s Meals t-shirt during both marathons, Conan wanted to bring attention to the organization.
Currently attached to Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, Nebraska, Conan says the seminary fosters a strong Marian devotion.
“It’s been beautiful, the link with Mary’s Meals. Our Lady connects people and brings people together,” he said.
The following weekend was Mother’s Day in the US, and on May 11, the 11th annual Race to Feed Kids took place in Des Moines, Iowa. More than 230 people participated in the 5K Race/Walk to raise funds for Mary’s Meals through the Heartland for Kids organization.
Mary’s Meals Iowa Coordinator, Ellen Miller, said the event generated enough funds to feed over 850 children at Mcheza School in Malawi!
“I couldn’t think of a better way to spend Mother’s Day weekend than helping to feed another mother’s vulnerable child,” she said.
