Poverty Awareness Marathon 9/19/2014

September was the month for poverty awareness. Dr. Charlie Chatterton, a professor of Health and Physical Education, dedicated to raising awareness of issues surrounding poverty by running marathons. He held the 6th annual Poverty Awareness Marathon at Eastern, for which he organizes a route that loops around the campus, which invites students, staff, and faculty to participate in. On the day of the event, signs with the latest statistics about poverty were posted along the route and around campus. Early on in the morning, Dr.Chatterton was joined by runners and supporters in a small opening ceremony during which all reflect on the importance of bringing awareness to this issue. Dr. Chatterton was accompanied by  runners as he runs the Marathon. Participants were encouraged to run or walk the entire 26.5 miles or join in or leave as their schedule allows. Runners were asked to register by donating a nonperishable food item which were collected at the starting point. All donations were then given to a local food pantry. 

Individuals participated by:

 

•           Donating nonperishable food. A food drive will be held, with a goal of 462 items, to support the local Covenant Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry. This number represents the 46.2 million people in the U.S. whose income falls below the poverty level.

 

•           Volunteering to read to children. Participants and campus community members will be invited to volunteer and read to children at the Child and Family Development Resource Center (CFDRC) on campus. This will be to represent the 16.1 million children experiencing poverty in the U.S.

 

•           Donating a children’s book. Children’s books will be collected, to be donated to local children’s programs.

 

•           Making a cash donation. All proceeds will go to the Covenant Soup Kitchen. 

 

"This was the 6th Annual Eastern Poverty Awareness Marathon, and number 57 as part of my Take Strides to Brake the Cycle of Poverty Marathon initiative. It took five hours and twenty-Eight minutes, but we had stops along the way to visit the Child Development Center to run with the kids and at exchange point every 1.2 miles." -Dr. Charlie Chatterton, ECSU professor of Health and Physical Education 

 667 miles were completed, 561 cans of food were donated, and $200 were raised.

 

"The Swim Team runs in the marathon every year. It is a good caused to raise awareness because no one is aware of the poverty line. Even students who go to Eastern are in poverty." -Abby Arisco, Senior of ECSU, and Swim Team Member