Organization recycles old shoes for runners who need them; CU athletes donate
Runners should think twice before tossing aside their old shoes; there is a better place for used athletic shoes than the trash can.
One World Running is a Boulder-based organization that collects new and “nearly new” athletic shoes for athletes in need around the world.
The nonprofit organization, originally known as Shoes for Africa, began in 1986 after one man’s startling encounter while running a marathon in Africa.
“During the race, I got beaten by a couple guys that were running with bare feet. One guy in particular had some sandals and on one of them the strap had broken and his foot was bloody. I just remember following his bloody footsteps into the stadium. When I was done, I gave him my pair of new Nikes,” said Mike Sandrock, a former CU athlete who became the founder of One World Running after his experience in Africa.
The organization came alive with the help of fellow Boulder runners who aided Sandrock in collecting and shipping shoes to Africa.
Sandrock’s dream has continued to grow ever since.
Today, One World Running has expanded its reach, donating to countries in Africa, South America and to areas of need within the United States.
The organization now collects T-shirts, athletic shorts and soccer cleats in addition to running shoes.
One World Running remains Boulder-based and operates solely through the volunteer efforts of Boulder runners.
Still, the company has achieved national status and receives donations from all over the U.S.
The organization now sponsors races within the countries of need, using the opportunity to improve the nutrition and health of people around the world.
Many Boulder businesses have gotten involved with One World Running’s cause.
Businesses like the Daily Camera, Fleet Feet Sports, Runner’s Choice and the Bolder Boulder serve as drop-off locations for people to donate their shoes. Community Plaza, a laundromat, has been helping the organization for over 20 years by washing the donated shoes. Shoes that are too worn to donate don’t go to waste.
“When the shoes arrive, the volunteers divide them into different categories, and the ones that are really just of no use go over to EcoCycle and get sent to Nike, who grinds them up into playgrounds,” Sandrock said.
The organization also accepts monetary donations. For every $195 donated, the company sends about 50 pairs of shoes to sub-Saharan Africa.
Like Sandrock, today’s CU runners know that suitable shoes are an essential for all athletes. Although CU is not directly involved with One World Running, individual athletes have contributed to the organization and the athletic department is careful not to let equipment go to waste.
The Student Athlete Advisory Committee, for example, has sponsored several used-shoe drives over the years. Payton Batliner, a music-arts major and distance runner for CU, proves that helping others often comes down to effortless tasks.
“I simply place my shoes in the bin marked ‘used shoes’ in the athletic building or in the red clothes recycle bins around town,” Batliner said.
Sandrock hopes to get CU athletes more involved in his cause.
“We would like to get more student involvement because I think we could actually collect a lot of shoes and actually get some volunteers to come and help us pack them up,” Sandrock said.
Other goals for Sandrock include further nationwide expansion of One World Running.
“We are at the point this year where we’re really going to expand. We want to expand the number of shoes that we send off and we also would like to have drop off points in about a dozen major cities,” Sandrock said.
As for now, the group of volunteers is focusing on one special donation.
“The next (shipment) is actually going to New Orleans. A lot of the kids really need shoes, so we’re shipping 500 pairs down,” Sandrock said.
To learn more about One World Running, visit their website here.
Contact Campus Press staff writer Elizabeth Cuje at Elizabeth.cuje@thecampuspress.com.
