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Who we are and what we do:
Running Revolution Ayiti — We Didn’t Come This Far Only to Come This Far
Running Revolution Ayiti is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Haitian children and young adults in attending school and university. We raise funds by organizing running events and use the entry fees and donations to sponsor students in Haiti. So far, we’ve hosted annual events and are now preparing for our third.The organization was founded by two Haitian friends—one living in Haiti, the other studying in the United States. While pursuing an engineering degree, Wisly discovered a sport he’d never given much thought to: running. It turned out he was pretty good at it. Though running wasn’t new to him, he had never experienced it in such a joyful and supportive environment. As he once said, “I used to run from gunshots and natural disasters all the time in Haiti.”Wisly encouraged his childhood friend Albert to give running a try. It turned out Albert was pretty good at it too. Running became their way of staying connected and inspiring each other to reach for more. They decided to share this outlet with others and build a running culture and community in their village outside Port-au-Prince—Running Revolution Ayiti was born.The club aims to empower members to chase their dreams one step at a time through running and physical fitness. Over time, it evolved into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses the power of running to raise funds for education in Haiti. Membership is open to men and women of all ages and abilities. The bonds forged over many sweaty miles generate hope amid constant struggle—and a collective strength strong enough to overcome any obstacle.
This Year's Recap
How we Started:
My name is Wisly Pierre, and I am a math major at UC Berkeley. As a kid, I used to race barefoot down the street in Haiti. It was never anything serious—it was just running. I used to think that running was a superpower, an outlet for all the emotions I carried. I loved splitting the wind and that feeling of life and freedom.
Fast forward: I came to the United States and got the chance to compete in track and field in high school and later in community college. While I enjoyed track and field, I fell in love with trail running during the pandemic in 2020. I was just running all over the place, trying out new trails and new paths. My friend back home would often ask how I was doing, and I’d tell him, “I’m just running.” I convinced him to give it a try. He wasn’t a fan at first, but he fell in love after every mile.
We started tracking our mileage through a running app and encouraging each other to reach new levels. We ended up creating a running club in Haiti called Running Revolution Ayiti. I would make videos here in the States to teach them how to run and stretch properly—and also supported them financially. I later went back home and finally got the chance to run with them. I was impressed by how their form had rapidly improved and how much fun they had when we were running together.
After returning to the States, Albert and I kept the movement going and eventually created various running races in Haiti to test their progress. However, as the club grew, my barista paycheck was no longer enough to support it. In the summer of 2023, we officially registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We began organizing running events here in the U.S. and used the entry fees to pay full tuition for kids in Haiti.
The sustainability of this club has never been a one-person job. It’s made possible thanks to the help of Albert and Roselyn in Haiti, and Ashli and Ronda in the United States. Now, we are planning next year’s annual fundraiser while I get ready to start my journey at UC Berkeley.
We are grateful for the support of our sponsors who contribute to our mission of providing Haitian children with educational resources, tuition assistance, and nutritional support, allowing us to make a meaningful impact in their lives.
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