Miles that Matter: Covenant House’s Marathon Runners

This November, as thousands of runners hit the pavement for the TCS New York City Marathon, Covenant House’s marathon team will be running to help raise funds and awareness to combat the crisis of youth homelessness. Since its start at Covenant House New Jersey in 2009, Covenant House’s incredible supporters (and some dedicated staff!) have been running the marathon and the half marathon in support of youth, and have been an incredible linchpin in our efforts to address the challenges so many youth in the city face. And this year, we’re not just running in New York, we’re also kicking off our first ever international marathon team with a runner in the Dublin Marathon! 

I’ve been involved with Covenant House as a volunteer since 2018. Having spent countless hours face to face with the youth that pass through the shelters in New York and Toronto, I’ve personally observed the magnitude of the impact that this organization can have and its ability to fundamentally change the direction of a young person’s life. I’ve come to believe that providing such support and opportunities to at-risk youth is among the highest-return investments we can make our communities. Running the New York Marathon for the second year in a row on team Covenant House gives me and the other runners the opportunity to tell the story of the organization’s impact, invite friends to volunteer, and connect donors directly to program needs.” - Teague Thackway 

Youth homelessness is an urgent crisis, with an estimated 4.2 million young people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. each year. Thousands of unaccompanied minors are looking for safe places to sleep every night at shelters like Covenant House, and more. Covenant House’s doors are open 24 hours a day, every day, to provide warm meals, showers, and a safe place to sleep to all youth who come to our doors. We also provide mental and physical healthcare, legal aid, educational support, job training, and longer-term housing assistance. Our running team plays a vital role in highlighting Covenant House’s work locally and internationally.  

As a part of the kickoff to Youth Homelessness Awareness Month, our marathon team will also carry something new with them this year – Covenant House’s plan to end youth homelessness as we know it today – The Journey Home. Just as marathon runners must train before a race, endure the race, and recover and heal afterward, the Journey Home is about helping stem the growing crisis of youth homelessness by looking at what youth face before they become homeless, providing best-in-class intervention services while they are experiencing homelessness, and how we support them after they leave our care. To end youth homelessness as we know it today, we have to stop youth from ever becoming homeless in the first place and ensure that they never experience homelessness again. And our incredible runners at this year’s marathons are going to help us deliver that message. 

If you want to learn more about the Journey Home, click here. 

What motivated me to join Covenant House’s marathon team was the opportunity to combine my passion for running with a cause that truly matters. Covenant House’s mission of providing shelter, safety, and support to young people experiencing homelessness resonated with me, and fundraising on their behalf gives every mile even more purpose. Running the NYC Marathon for this cause is not only about achieving a personal goal, but also about making a meaningful impact for others.” - Gerald Nvule 

Supporters at home can contribute to Covenant House’s marathon campaign page here, and you can find more details about how to cheer on Covenant House runners, and help tell the world that we can end youth homelessness if we face the truth of the crisis, and take action so that every young person has a safe place to sleep.