Help Me Run – Help a Child

As many of you know I’m running the NYC Marathon on November 6 of this year! I’ve lost 113 lbs in the past year and a big part of achieving that has been running. I ran my very first half marathon in April. I’m well into training now and I am so excited!!

I am running for Team World Vision. World Vision is one of the largest and strongest humanitarian organizations in the world. They believe in helping children in the name of Jesus. You can find out more about what they do here:One of the primary ways they provide aid to the developing world is through child sponsorships. For around $1 per day you provide….

Clean water
Nutritious food
Health care
Educational opportunities
Spiritual nurture

As a child sponsor, you are connected with one special child who will know your name, write to you and feel your tender love and prayers.

Olivia and I have just sponsored our first child through World Vision. Her name is Lorine, she’s from Kenya, and we are so excited to pray for her and get to know her better. We are helping to change her life!

My goal is to get a child sponsored for each mile I run in the Marathon (that’s 26!). Would you consider sponsoring one of these children? It’s $35 per month. You can use the link below. Be sure to include my name on the form and then email me so I know to include you in my total! (benwardmusic {at} gmail.com).

www.teamworldvision.org/NYCsponsor

Thank you and I look forward to changing lives with you!!!!

15 Replies to “Help Me Run – Help a Child”

  1. This is something that I’ve wanted to do for the past 18 months. I’m so grateful for my husband and I to be in a position to be able to sponsor a child. Good luck in your first marathon!

  2. Ben,

    I posted on a previous post you made but I wanted to let you know that I truly would love to sponsor a child. I will be talking with my husband tonight! Would it be possible for you to blog about your training experience? I am in the process of recovering from runner’s knee and now that I am running again, I really want to do it right! My last marathon I only trained for 3 months. SO not enough time! So I would love to hear about what you do for long runs, speed workouts, and other cardio!

    ashlee

    1. Thanks, Ashlee. I do plan on blogging about the training. I usually post the basic details of the daily runs on Twitter, but I plan on doing more in depth stuff here. I look forward to sharing and hearing your experiences :).

  3. Good morning Ben,
    I am already a child sponsor for World Vision, have been for six years. However, this morning I was drawn to Olivia’s blog for a reason unbeknownst to me but not to our Lord. I watched the video of the two of you for the reason of just hearing what the two of you had to said, not expecting to hear about your connectionn to World Vision. World Vision is an amazing organization that I have been involved with for years and when you mentioned your connection I felt a connection to you. I was inspired by your willingness to use The Biggest Loser opportunity for a means “bigger” than yourself. Therefore, I decided to sponsor another child. I am thrilled that you are willing to be so bold and share your faith with the world and want to support that too. I do not believe in coincidences and know the Lord drew me to this today to support you. Thank you for letting the Lord use you today.
    Lynne Morgan

  4. Hi Ben and Olivia, I would be honored to help sponsor not only you in your marathon (CONGRATS), but also help to sponsor a child in need. I have traveled with a missions group to Kenya in the past, and Kenya has a very special place in my heart. I have seen the slums and the terrible conditions that these children live in, and it really puts into perspective what is important in life. Through church, I have also worked with World Vision on the 30 hr Famine, so I am very familiar with World Vision and all the amazing ways they help across the World. I am happy to be involved with not only your physical challenge during this marathon, but to aid in prayer and sponsoring a child! It is great to see that you are using the opportunities you have been giving, then giving the glory to God and working to help make the world a better place! Great job! =)
    Danielle Vitale, RN (Future Biggest Loser Hopeful) LOL!
    P.S. I just wanted to say that I had met the two of you in Newark with my ma for casting calls and I was so pleased with how pleasant and willing you were to chat and help to encourage us in our journey! We truly appreciate that! Keep up the good work! =)

  5. Thanks for taking up this worthy cause. I ran my first marathon 4 years ago when Team World Vision was just getting started. You’ll love the race and knowing that you’ve made a difference in the lives of others in the process.

  6. Children should not have to go through with no clean water, or any type of non necessity items, you have my support!

  7. We got our packet with the information on our sweet little boy and we are so excited. Thanks again for the push to get on board with such an inspiring organization!

  8. Oh my goodness – THANK YOU for doing this! I actually work for World Vision here in the Seattle area…what an incredible blessing to see you guys using your public platform to make a difference by partnering with WV and promoting our work. I came across the youtube vid totally by accident but I am so glad I did…thank you, thank you, thank you!
    God bless you!

    P.S. Loved watching Olivia and Hannah on BL…hugely inspired and blessed by following all 3 of your journeys!

    1. Hi Chifonne! Thank you for your kind words. It has been such a blessing and I’m so excited to be a part of the World Vision family in a small way :). Thank you for the work you do!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *