Charity
Shoes for Kids Mission Statement: To provide the foundation – shoes – to children of all ages so that they can enjoy the freedom, the sense of accomplishment and the physical & mental wellbeing that comes from the sport of running.
In 2010, Fargo Marathon, Inc. established its Shoes for Kids Campaign, and it has been going strong ever since! We are proud to say that over 10,000 pairs of shoes have been donated to children throughout our community. Over 2,000 pairs were donated in 2020 alone, and with your help, we're looking to exceed that total in 2023!
It’s very easy for us to take things like shoes for granted, but the reality is that many students in our community don’t have the luxury of something as simple as a new pair of shoes. In some schools, the percentage is as much as 50%.
As walkers and runners who participate in race events, we know how important shoes are. We believe that no child should have to “sit out” of gym or extra-curricular sports because he or she doesn’t have a pair of shoes! It’s also important for a child’s self-esteem! Remember the first day of school when you were a kid? You had those bright new shoes and it was great! We believe every kid should have that same proud feeling.
So…we have partnered with some great companies in our community to create this initiative…Shoes for Kids! Companies such as BCBS of North Dakota, Discovery Benefits, JDP Electric, Heat Transfer Warehouse and Dakota Medical Foundation have all helped make this possible.
When you register for one of the events of the Fargo Marathon, you have the option to donate to Shoes for Kids, and we’d be grateful if you could. We need to keep kids running strong for years to come!
Want to get involved? Want to buy a pair of shoes for a child in need? For only $30, you can help a child feel confident, comfortable, and encourage lifelong health and wellness by ‘buying’ a pair of shoes! Of course, we will accept any denomination of donation ~ 100% of the net proceeds will go to the Shoes for Kids campaign!
How can you help?
Volunteer
Our events are nothing without our incredible cast of volunteers. Whether helping out at aid stations, assisting at the start-finish line, or providing other race-day coordination needs, our volunteers make our participants’ dreams come true. We love to work with large groups who are looking to get involved and possibly turn this into a fundraising opportunity.
Looking to help out at this year’s Fargo Marathon? Please email [email protected] to find out about the opportunities!
Ready To Run?
Click the button below to reserve your spot today at the Essentia Health Fargo Marathon!
