March 15 marks Ryan and Sara Hall’s first marathon together, but the day also marks the beginning of the first Hall Steps Foundation team competition. The couple will run the USATF Marathon Championships at the L.A. Marathon in an effort to race and raise money to fight global poverty. 

 

The Hall Steps Foundation is a nonprofit organization started by Ryan and Sara Hall in 2009 to fight global poverty through better health. The goal is to build a community and provide each member an opportunity to “take their own steps toward relieving suffering and helping the poor rise out of poverty.” The organization is a lifestyle philanthropy that encourages supporters to make personal commitments to their own health while using it as a catalyst to ignite change. 

 

The eight-week team competition begins when Ryan crosses the finish line on Sunday, March 15, and will give high school and college teams the opportunity to make their steps matter by fighting global poverty. Athletes will seek out supporters to make monetary pledges by the mile, up to a predetermined amount. Miles will be tracked and sponsor dollars accumulated through the website Frundraise.com. The donations accumulated for the Steps Foundation team competition will go towards clean water projects in Ethiopia. 

 

Each participating team will have its own webpage set up through Frundraise, where miles and donations will be recorded. The team that raises the most funds during the competition will win a visit and practice with American record-holder and Olympian Ryan Hall. 

 

To get involved, participants must email their team information to mystepsmatter@thestepsfoundation.org.