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Run For Burma

In 2010, BHM had runners participate in four separate distant running events: The San Francisco Marathon event, the Army Ten Miler, the Marine Corps Marathon and the Big Sur Half Marathon. More than 70 runners took up the challenge to be part of the Run for Burma team and have a special reason for their run. This year, we had our youngest (16 year old) and our oldest marathoner (60 year old) on the team.

In 2011, BHM has been selected as a charity partner with the San Francisco Event on July 31st and Marine Corps Marathon on October 30th. Having a reason for your run truly makes a difference. Please read the updates for our activities in San Francisco and Washington DC plus one runner’s story.

San Francisco

In 2010, 30 runners took to the streets of San Francisco and ran the Marathon, half marathon and the 5k run/walk as part of the Run for Burma team. Once again, we partnered with the Burmese American Democratic Alliance. Together, we raised awareness for the horrific conditions in Burma, their lack of basic freedoms and the dire need for the most fundamental medical care.

On July 30th 2011, we will return to the City by the Bay for the marathon event series. Come join us and join more than 20,000 runners who will run across the Golden Gate bridge. There’s a race for everyone and every talent – marathon, half marathon, progressive marathon and 5k. We will provide advice on how to train for your run in addition to materials and ideas on how to enlist the support and involvement of your family, friends and co-workers.

For more information, please contact us at sfm (at) burmamission.org

Washington DC - Marine Corps Marathon

This last year, we had 35 runners start and complete the Marathon and its companion 10k run through the streets of Arlington VA and the neighboring Nation’s capital. We also enjoyed a fun-filled weekend with a pre-run pasta dinner, generously donated by Café Romeo’s and a post-run reception.

In 2011, you can join the Run for Burma team in one of the nation’s most popular marathon events next October 31st. The marathon fills up in just a few days, but contact us for how you can join us now for the nation’s 4th most popular running event.

You can also run the Marine Corps Marathon 10k if wish to complete a shorter distance.

As with the San Francisco series, we will provide you advice on how to train for your run in addition to materials and ideas on how to enlist the support and involvement of your family, friends and co-workers. We also have team t-shirts, prizes for top fund raisers and free pre-run pasta dinner.

Use your freedom and your health to promote the liberty and well being of those suffering in extremely brutal conditions.

For more information, please contact us at mcm (at) burmamission.org

One Runner's Story

Running a marathon is a challenge. One of our runners in the Marine Corps Marathon certainly found it so. But her experience demonstrates why Run for Burma truly transform the experience into something much bigger and enduring. At Christmas, she shared her experience with friends:

“As you know, on Sunday October 25th, I ran the 34th annual Marine Corps Marathon. This was my third marathon and by far the most difficult race I have ever run. My knee problems started acting up very early in the race. When my body started to quit on me before I had even started my sixth mile (with 20 left to go), I knew that this was really not going to be an easy one.

With tears streaming down my face, I grit my teeth and reminded myself why I was running that day. The race was no longer about my own personal running goals. It was about something better than that. I was running down every dollar that each of you committed to the Karen in Burma. Besides the pain I had to fight off for four hours could hardly be comparable to the pain the Karen have felt for 47 years living under the junta. I refused to let myself walk a single step or stop and rest—I pressed on, and ran every single step with each and every one of you.

I didn’t run this race for me. I ran to honor each and every one of you and for those in the world that don’t have the access to peace and health that I do.