Play it Forward

Play it Forward, an inclusive initiative to promote physical fitness, teamwork, and community engagement, particularly for underprivileged youth in the Durham public school system. This free program will be accessible to all children aged 5-13, regardless of financial background, addressing the inequities of traditional “pay to play” sports. The program will include weekly sessions where children participate in a structured running clinic that teaches running basics, warm-ups and cool-downs, pacing, and essential life skills like goal-setting. Each child will set a personal running goal and participate in milestone challenges, culminating in a fundraiser race to celebrate their achievements. We aim to serve three distinct groups: underprivileged youth, children with disabilities, and those facing barriers to sports participation. We'll provide t-shirts to foster team spirit and unity and have all necessary equipment such as resistance bands, foam rollers, running gear, and nutrition snacks. Safety and training are priorities; we’ll will have coaching training and safety sessions for our staff and participants.