Camden-based UrbanPromise International will be having its second annual “In Charity’s Shoes” 5k fun run on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Tatem Elementary School in Haddonfield. The untimed trail run is designed to raise awareness about the everyday obstacles and hardships thousands of children face in Malawi, Africa in order to receive a basic education.
“Charity is the name of a young girl who walks four hours roundtrip, every day, in order to attend the closest school to her village,” said Margaret Wooten, Director of Development for UrbanPromise International. “The determination she exhibits to overcome her circumstances and beat the overwhelming odds against her are awe-inspiring. We want the world to know her story — and the stories of thousands of other children like her. We at UrbanPromise International want to ensure that education isn’t just for the privileged few.”
For 27 years, UrbanPromise has been equipping at-risk children in Camden with the skills necessary for academic achievement, life management, spiritual growth and leadership. UrbanPromise International, founded in 2008, was initiated in order to assist emerging leaders from around the world in establishing youth-serving organizations based on the UrbanPromise Camden model. ChristCares Ministries is one of six UrbanPromise International-affiliate sites in Malawi, and this is where Charity receives her education. Over the past three years, several of UrbanPromise International’s leaders have recognized the need for local high schools and have built them within the communities they serve.
Over 150 participants are expected to attend the Oct. 3 event, which starts at 9 a.m. with day-of registration opening at 8:30 a.m. Registration is free, but each runner is asked to set a fundraising goal of $100 in order to help underwrite the cost of UPI’s schools in Malawi.
