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Stride for Stride is a non-profit running organization that buys race bibs for immigrant, BIPOC, and low-income runners - our goal is to make races more accessible and more diverse. 

 

There's no reason why money should prevent you from getting to the starting line, especially when crossing the finish line could change your life. 

 

Stride for Stride launched in November 2018 and since then we’ve grown to a team of 400 runners from 27 countries; Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Brazil, Chile, Venezuela, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Taiwan, Morocco, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Spain, India, Turkey, and the U.S.

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Tom O'Keefe - Founder of Stride for Stride
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Tom O'Keefe - Founder of Stride for Stride

The Falmouth Road Race was the first race I ever ran, and it changed my life forever. Not only did it help me become healthier, but it also give me a goal to strive for. A goal that I once thought was impossible to accomplish. I started Stride for Stride - to give all runners a chance to compete with everyone else. When you’re at the starting line it doesn’t matter how much money you have, or where you come from - you’re all equal at the starting line - anyone has a chance to win the race. Upon registering for my second race, and my third, and my fourth, I quickly discovered that races are expensive - really expensive - and it’s an expense that many can't afford. How expensive? A half marathon costs around $80, a marathon is $150. If you want to run the Boston Marathon that will cost you $250 if you qualify and $350 if you’re running for charity. And don’t forget, charity runners also have to raise $10,000 for charity. Clearly these costs prevent a lot of low-income runners from running races. With a few years of racing under my belt there was two constants that I always thought about when lining up at the starting line. First, crossing the finish line is one of the greatest accomplishments we can experience. It’s a shame that money is preventing a lot of runners from getting to the starting line. And, second - races lack diversity. Why? Because of the cost and because running in certain communities is just not safe. With these two thoughts in my head I launched Stride for Stride in November 2018 to give EVERYONE an equal opportunity to run. Our goal is to make races more accessible and more diverse. We accomplish this goal by purchasing race bibs for low-income runners. I created a running organization that buys race bibs for immigrant runners, that buys race bibs for black runners, that buys race bibs for anyone who wants to run, but can’t afford to do so. Again, our goal is to make races more accessible and more diverse. Stride for Stride
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Tom O'Keefe, Founder of Stride for Stride

"Stride for Stride is more than just running. Crossing the finish line gives people hope, empowerment, a sense of belonging, and pure joy."
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Kindness

On January 10, 2024, Tom O'Keefe (founder of Stride for Stride) received a life saving kidney donation from his Stride for Stride teammate, Jorge Rosales.

This book is the story of how being kind and empathetic to others gave Tom the greatest gift of his life.

To order 'Kindness' Venmo $20 to @Bostontweet with your name & address for a signed copy. US only.

Or click the button below to preview and purchase 'Kindness'.

202 Washington Street

Suite #316

Brookline, MA 02445

The Stride for Stride Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity.

 

EIN: 83-2949347

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