As part of the Winter Warriors Challenge, nearly a dozen local residents are running to benefit youth served by The Chase Home.
Founded in 1877, The Chase Home in Portsmouth serves at-risk youth annually through prevention, early intervention, residential and community-based programs. Some youth are served in the community while others live at The Chase Home.
“We are pledging to run 3,000 miles in January and will match 10% of all donations up to 10,000,” said Matt Sawyer, one of ten runners who make up The Icarus Project.
Representing a combination of runners from the Runner’s Alley racing team and a Seacoast Long Run group, The Icarus Project is ‘on pace’ to achieving its goal.
“The team just just cleared 800 miles and is on track for the goal,” said Sawyer, who works at The Proulx Real Estate team in Portsmouth.
As for why the group selected The Chase Home, he said many of them are parents themselves.
“We appreciate the challenges of raising children, even under optimal conditions,” he said. “We know that the kids at the Chase Home did not start with all the advantages that most of us did and they will have to overcome challenges that we can’t even imagine…We all feel good about trying to generate some support for the kids at Chase Home.”
Executive Director Meme Wheeler said she is “humbled” at the outpouring of generosity.
“We are so thankful for Matt and the entire team for literally running for our kids,” she said. “This really means so much.”
To learn more about the fundraiser, click here.