Moise Joseph hopes to raise funds for youth education and sports programs in Haiti by doing what he does best: run.
He’s inviting everyone to join him 9 a.m. Saturday, March 23, 2013 at the South Lakes High School Track for the fourth annual run. Register here
Joseph, who represented Haiti in the 2004 and 2012 Olympics, first organized the “Run for Haiti 5K” and “Fun Run” in 2010, following the 2010 earthquake.
“The reason I am having this ‘Run for Haiti 5K’ is to use my platform as a Haitian Olympic athlete to help aid small organizations in Haiti that have the primary focus of helping develop and provide relief for the youth in Haiti,” Joseph said.
The run will benefit two organizations: Project Haiti and Ghates.
Project Haiti is a non-profit which has worked in Haiti since 2000. Its main projects focus on implementing sports and educational activities in two Haitian schools.
Ghates, Global Haitian Advancement Through Education & Sports Inc., is a not-for-profit that provides scholarships and computers for students. Ghates also offers sports clinics along with basketball and soccer tournaments, Joseph said. “Ghates also has educational summits that provide leadership, entrepreneurship and computer skills for youth,” he said. “Partnering with the Ghates Foundation was a pretty easy decision. Their primary focus is to help youth sports in their local community of Jérémie, Haiti. Our goals and ideas match as it relates to ways we would like to give back to our beloved country.”
The stroller-friendly run will also feature Bershawn Jackson, 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist and 2005 World Champion in the 400 meter hurdles, as the race’s honorary starter. Hyleas Fountain, a 2008 Olympic silver medalist in the heptathlon for the U.S. and five-time U.S. champion, will also be present.
The first 800 runners receive a collectible pin and those who pre-register receive a race T-shirt.