Seafarer Marathon

Camp Seafarer's "Run a Kid to Camp" program began in the summer of 2000 when three members of our leadership staff approached the team of directors with an idea to raise money for scholarships. All three of them had run a marathon and had successfully raised money for some very worthy organizations. Their idea was to use the marathon/fundraising template as an opportunity to bring more children to camp. Here is an excerpt from their proposal:

"When something has shaped your life, your being, your relationship to the world around you, there is an unwavering commitment and loyalty deep within that honors the roots you have laid at this place, the wings it revealed to you, and the faith with which it taught you to fly. Camp Seafarer is the only place we know that affects people so deeply that they are willing to spend 18 weeks worth of Saturday mornings running 10, 16, or even 22 miles in order to train for a marathon...But there is really no surprise at this dedication...at the end of the summer we found it was the pouring of ourselves into the lives of children that in turn poured life into us. We left those gates knowing we had made a difference, and soon we were to learn what a difference Seafarer had made in us."

Because of their belief in the power of the camp experience, since that time, over 200 young women (and some men) have trained and run either a marathon or half marathon and raised $150,000. The endowment now provides camperships to daughters of single parents, making camp possible to someone who otherwise could not afford it. Again this year, we will be lacing up our sneakers and heading out for another great run! We will be running in the Myrtle Beach Marathon/Half Marathon on February 14, 2009. If you are interested in being a part of Seafarer Team 2009 as a runner, walker or support team member, or if you would like to make a donation to this effort, please contact Lydia Warren for more information. You can reach Lydia at lydia.warren@seagull-seafarer.org or (252) 249-1212.

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