I began running for Grassroots six years ago. If you told me then that I would run four half-marathons and one full for charity, I'd think you were stating the impossible. But now, my head is back in the game for another rematch of the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) course after a illness-related deferral from the 2018 race. Respiratory virus season remains my biggest challenge although this year's race brings an extra challenge in that I now only have one kidney after donating it to someone who needed one. I am up to these challenges because kidney donor athletes are a thing you never knew existed.
The mission of The Grassroot Project (TGP) is to use sports to educate at-risk youth in Washington D.C. about HIV awareness and prevention, and, since my last Marine Corps Marathon, has recently expanded their programming foci to include nutrition and mental health. The Grassroot Project engages at-risk youth in Washington D.C. by partnering with Division I athletes from Georgetown University (Hoya Saxa!), George Washington University, Howard University, and American University. This organization trains local NCAA athletes as volunteer health educators to deliver eight-week youth empowerment programs in Washington, DC middle schools.
All funds raised will directly support the implementation of programs. You can learn more about our organization at www.GrassrootProject.org.
If you are interested in joining Team Grassroots, click the 'JOIN' button on the right-hand side of this page.
Please direct all questions to Tyler Spencer at tyler@grassrootproject.org, or (202) 559-7923.
