How We Started
My name is Wisly Pierre, and I am a math major with minors in Anthropology and French at UC Berkeley. As a kid, I used to race barefoot down the streets of Haiti. It was never anything serious—it was just running. I saw running as a superpower, an outlet for all the emotions I carried. I loved splitting the wind, that feeling of life and freedom.
Fast forward: I came to the United States and had the opportunity to compete in track and field in high school and later in community college. While I enjoyed track and field, I fell in love with trail running during the 2020 pandemic. I was running everywhere, exploring new trails and paths. When people back home asked what I was up to, I would simply say, “I’m just running.” I even convinced some folks from my city back home to give it a try. They weren’t fans at first, but mile after mile, they fell in love with it and began using it as a way to socialize—often chatting over a cup of coffee afterward.
We started tracking our mileage through a running app and encouraging each other to push further. Eventually, we created a running club in Haiti called Running Revolution Ayiti. From the States, I made videos to teach proper running and stretching techniques and to support them financially. Later, I went back home and finally got the chance to run with them. I was impressed by how quickly their form had improved and how much joy they found in running together.
After returning to the States, we kept the movement going and began organizing races in Haiti to test our progress. As the club grew, my barista paycheck was no longer enough to sustain it. In the summer of 2023, we officially registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We started organizing running events here in the U.S., using entry fees to help pay full tuition for kids in Haiti.
The sustainability of this club has never been a one-person effort. It’s made possible by the support of various coffee shops and coaches, Albert and Roselyn, leaders of the organization in Haiti; Ashli and Ronda in the United States; and Dwayne from Portugal. Now, we are planning multiple coffee and running events this summer to help them register for school and relocate due to massive gang violence in some parts of Haiti.
Thank You To Our Sponsors
We are grateful for the support of our sponsors, who contribute to our mission to provide Haitian children with educational resources, tuition assistance, and nutritional support, enabling us to make a meaningful impact in their lives.
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Contact Us for More Information
Reach out to us for any inquiries or partnership opportunities. We are here to answer your questions and discuss how you can support our cause.