TodaySU athlete to help runners around world
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Article RatingAfter running thousands of miles, Shippensburg University student Allison Rineer understands the importance of a good pair of training shoes.
“It’s going to help so many underprivileged people, it doesn’t take a lot of work, it’s free of charge,” she said. “I’m always looking for something I can do to help at college, and when I read about this organization that collects used running shoes and ships them to people who are in need, I really liked that idea.
Rineer, of Lititz, and other volunteers, including the university’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, will collect used running shoes as part of the International One World Running program. The Colorado-based, nonprofit program promotes an awareness of health, fitness and nutrition, according to its website at www.oneworldrunning.com.
Inspired by magazine article
A second-year member of the cross-country team and a junior elementary education major, Rineer felt inspired to start a local shoe drive after reading an article in a recent Runner’s World magazine. After discussing the idea with Dr. Roberta Page, the director of athletics, Rineer placed shoe collection boxes at various locations around campus, such as Heiges Field House and the Anthony F. Ceddia Union Building. She said drop-off boxes may also be added off campus.
“It doesn’t take much for people to donate their used sneakers and drop them off. It’s a great cause and there’s no money involved,” she said. “All it is getting rid of stinky shoes.”
If the donated shoes are worn beyond use, Rineer says they can still be helpful. “If they are too beat up or too used, then they are recycled and ground up for other uses like playground equipment. Either way they are not going to be wasted.”
Rineer and the volunteers will send their first shipment of shoes to Belize around Christmas and their following shipment to Kenya in February.
“I was originally hoping to get about 100 pairs of shoes,” she said, but with the recent support the program has been getting she thinks that number may double or triple. “I’d be really pleased with that many for the shipment.”
Has support of coach
Rineer’s coach Steven Spence supports the program because he has seen the need of fellow runners; Spence was a bronze medalist in the 1991 World Championships and an Olympic marathoner in 1992.
“The equipment for our sport is minimal,” he said. “All someone basically needs is some foot protection and the motivation to get out the door. It seems like nothing motivates a runner like new shoes. I hope that this program inspires a new generation of runners throughout the world.”
For more information, e-mail Rineer at amr44@juno.com.
— By Matthew McKeague, graduate assistant in the Office of University Communications and Marketing at Shippensburg University.
