Building on the success of the first two events the third annual New Year Run for a Healthy World, to be run on January 1, 2009, will be better than ever. The run will once again be at the scenic Baylands Athletic Center course in Palo Alto. Both the 10K and 5K are over Baylands levees and through the marsh lands on mostly dirt roads. Both courses are USAT&F certified. There will be Female and Male race divisions, in 10 year increments, with awards three deep. To register for the run CLICK HERE.

The proceeds from this run support the education of young women in Africa, microfinance in Central America and Second Harvest Food Bank locally.

Opportunities for Friends and Family: All races depend on volunteers, lots of them. There are plenty of opportunities for your non running/walking friends and family to actively participate with you on race day. To volunteer CLICK HERE.

Past race results and photographs:

Run for a Healthy World 2008 race results with age graded results.

Run for a Healthy World race results on Active.com for both the 2007 and 2008 races.

2007 and 2008 Race Photos are still available from Barry Walton Photography.

World Runners is unique among nonprofit institutions. The organization is interested in the fitness of both its members and its beneficiaries. However, there is a difference in emphasis on the type of fitness between the two groups. Physical fitness is the main interest for the member and financial fitness for the beneficiaries.

World Runners was founded in 1978 by a group of runners with a mission to make a difference in the world. The difference to make? To end the existence of hunger and poverty in the world. If we were going to go to all the effort to run a marathon or a 10k race, for example, we wanted it to count for more than just thousands of steps. We wanted our running to make a lasting difference in the world as well.

It became increasingly clear that poverty was one of the prime reasons for the persistence of hunger. People with means seemed to be able to feed themselves regardless of where they lived. The key link in the persistence of hunger seemed to be poverty and people lacking economic empowerment. And, what better way to end poverty than through microcredit and education.

World Runners' current programs support microcredit, the education of young women in Africa and, locally, the Second Harvest Food Bank. To learn more about these programs Click here.

This years San Francisco Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K are in the record books. On Sunday August 3 World Runners Board of Directors members Bob Lord (left, 1st 1/2), Emil Gluekler (near left, whole, his 54th), Greg Neil (2nd 1/2) and George Weiner (5K) ran in San Francisco to raise funds for the causes World Runners supports. While the race is over the effort to reach the $7000 fund raising goal is just past the halfway point.

To make a donation toward the $7000 goal on behalf of the causes World Runners supports Click here

The proceeds from the run support the Marlene Assell Program for the education of young women in Africa, microfinance, and the Second Harvest Food Bank locally.

To see the results for the race Click here

The second annual Run for a Healthy World, run on January 1, 2008, was a heart warming financial success. The proceeds from the run supported the Marlene Assell Program for the education of young women in Africa - $1,400, microfinance - $1,400, and the Second Harvest Food Bank locally - $1,200. World Runners President, Bob Lord, presents the check to Crystal Ulrich, Community Giving Manager of Second Harvest Food Bank. The donation, equivalent to 2400 meals, is particularly timely since the demand on local food banks has increased significantly as fuel and food prices soar.

And the race results:

Run for a Healthy World race results With age graded results.

Run for a Healthy World race results on Active.com

Pictures of both the 2007 and 2008 event are still available from Barry Walton Photography:

2008 and 2007 Race Photos.