Thanks very much for visiting my personal Fundraising Page for Running Strong for American Indian Youth. I have been donating to the charity for several years through the Combined Federal Campaign, and this year I have the distinct honor and pleasure of running the Marine Corps Marathon under their banner.
The story of Running Strong for American Indian Youth is indelibly interwoven with the story of Billy Mills, their national spokesman. Born on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, and a member of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) tribe (which I am proud to count among my own ancestors), Billy was orphaned at a young age. He initially distinguished himself by being one of the first members of the tribe to graduate college, becoming a stand-out cross-country star on the University of Kansas’ NCAA Championship Teams in 1959 and 1960, and winning the individual cross-country title in the Big Eight in 1960. After graduation, Billy was commissioned in the Marine Corps Reserves and competed in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics in the 10,000 meters and the marathon. Mills was a relative unknown, having never run the 10,000 meters in under 29 minutes, whereas the world record pace was a full minute faster than his personal best. Mills was not even considered the top American hopeful for the event, and wound up running the race in a pair of borrowed shoes. As shown in the remarkable attached video, Billy shocked the world by breaking the Olympic Record with an individual performance that has frequently been counted among the greatest upsets, the greatest finishes and the greatest races ever run in Olympic history, immortalized by color commentator Dick Bank’s jubilant cry of “Look at Mills! Look at Mills!” Billy became just the second Native American to win Olympic Gold (the first being the legendary Jim Thorpe), and he is still the only American to ever win the event.
Running Strong for American Indian Youth was founded in 1986, and is focused on simultaneously improving the material, educational and emotional quality of life for Native American children while helping preserve and pass along traditional culture, traditions and language to the younger generations, with particular focus on the Pine Ridge and Cheyenne River Reservations in the Dakotas, the Crow Reservation in Montana, and the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico. The charity has been recognized multiple times by the CFC for its focus and impact on the lives of the young; over 94 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to providing food, clothing, clean water, housing, fuel and school supplies to children, supporting sustainable agriculture and local public works improvement projects for the young and old alike, and funding educational programs which help preserve traditional language and cultural practices. The shocking level of poverty and hardship experienced by many residents of the reservations means that every dollar donated makes a world of difference. The Pine Ridge Reservation alone contains several of the poorest counties in the United States, with a large segment of the population either homeless or living in substandard housing. The infant mortality rate is the highest in the country, while the life expectancy is the lowest (48 for men, 52 for women; which is lower than 175 of the world’s 194 countries), while unemployment is a staggering 80%, and only 12% of residents have a college degree. Given these challenges, Running Strong for American Indian Youth is passionately focused on issues of social justice and improving quality of life in the here and now for all those living on the reservation, while instilling in the young a belief in their power to achieve their dreams and goals by drawing on the strength of their culture, with Billy Mills as a inspiring exemplar.
In addition to its other fundraising activities, Running Strong has sponsored a charity team in the Marine Corps Marathon every year since 2004. This year’s race is on October 30th, with a course that starts outside Arlington Memorial Cemetery, concludes at the Iwo Jima Memorial, and includes the National Mall and major monuments in the District of Columbia, making it one of the most beautiful marathon courses in existence. In addition to raising badly needed funds, the team helps raise awareness about the incredible work this charity does on a daily basis. If you decide to make a donation, please consider the following regarding its power:
A donation of $25 (less than $1/mile I will run) can provide seedlings for a family garden on the reservation (the fresh vegetables in these gardens are invaluable in helping to combat high rates of malnutrition and diabetes)
A donation of $100 (less than $4/mile) can fund upkeep and maintenance on a family home for a year, or provide the necessary electricity, propane and firewood needed to keep their home heated during a full month of the harsh winters on the reservation.
A donation of $200 (less than $8/mile) can provide 20 brand new pairs of shoes for children.
A donation of $250 (less than $10/mile) can provide school supplies for 30 children.
A donation of $500 (less than $20/mile) can provide brand new toys for 25 children at Christmas.
A donation of $700 (less than $30/mile) can fully fund elder-led language classes for an entire community of children.
A combined donation of $10,000 will drill a 250-foot water well for one of the many families on Pine Ridge living without clean water.
A donation of $61,000 will build an environmentally-friendly two-bedroom house for one of the many homeless families living on Pine Ridge.
All donations to Running Strong are tax-deductible, and donating through this site is simple, fast and completely secure. It is also the most efficient way to make a contribution to our fundraising efforts. As part of my annual contribution, I will be matching your donations until the total reaches Billy’s jersey number at the 1964 Olympics ($722). I will also provide everyone who donates with a Running Strong bracelet identical to the one I have been wearing for my training and will be wearing during the race. Please feel free to visit Running Strong’s website (http://www.indianyouth.org) as well for information on other opportunities to help or contribute. Their site includes a large selection of beautiful authentically hand-crafted artwork and jewelry which help fund Running Strong’s efforts. Many thanks for your support -- and please don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!
Brad Fiske