Every Runner Has A Reason from Heist on Vimeo.
Ronnie Goodman may well be San Francisco’s most unexpected half-marathoner.
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He might not have a comfortable place to rest his aching feet at night, but that didn’t keep the homeless artist from running 13.1 miles in San Francisco’s half marathon for charity.
Drug addiction and prison time left Goodman without a home, sleeping on the streets of San Francisco.
Now, sober for more than a decade, Goodman trained for the city’s marathon, setting out to conquer the same streets on which he sleeps. He finished the race in 1:43 and raised $10,000 for charity in July.
When he’s not out beating the streets, he paints.
Goodman, 54, has been living under a freeway in San Francisco for two years, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Still, he trains every day to fulfill his dream of running in the famed local event and his fans have found a way to make sure he will.
After reading about his love of running in the Chronicle’s original profile of Goodman, fans stepped in and donated $120 to cover his entry fee for the July race.While Goodman could have certainly used the race as a way to raise additional funds for himself, he’s decided to give back to the organization that’s helping him get back on his feet.
He collected money for the Hospitality House, an organization that empowers homeless and low-income people through a number of initiatives, including an art program that encouraged Goodman to pursue his passion.
The self-taught artist paints and draws works that explore both the beauty and diversity of his city, along with images of human despair, according to his website.
Goodman set a pretty ambitious goal of raising $25,000 for the organization, according to the campaign’s website. Donors were entered into a raffle to win one of Goodman’s original works.Goodman feels confident he can reach his goal and is mostly looking forward to showing the Hospitality House just how grateful he is.
“This is my chance to give back to them,” Goodman told the Chronicle. “That makes me happy.”
~Via Ronnie Goodman, Google News, SF Gate/Huffington Post, Vimeo
by Skippy Massey
This post originally appeared at the Humboldt Sentinel. Reprinted with permission.
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I say the video and read part of the story. I couldn’t read all because (right now there doing a head count…you get it) This year well be my 3rd nyc marathon and hopefully my last one homeless. I completed my 1sr by myself last year. Meaning i was the mentor. I dont want to feel that loneliness like last year. I want to run for a bigger cause. That cause is helping someone or some people are a nation country but not just myself. I owe a doubt and thats to society. Family friends coworkers and most of all… Read more »