For the Kent Reporter

Soles4Souls Inc., the global not-for-profit institution dedicated to fighting the devastating impact and perpetuation of poverty, is teaming up with Road Runner Sports, a national fitness footwear and apparel retailer, to collect footwear at 18 “Adventure Runs” scheduled to take place in cities across the nation this year.

Kent’s Road Runner Sports, 444 Ramsway Way, No. 114, will host Adventure Runs on May 16, June 20, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19, Oct. 17 and Nov. 21.

A list of all the locations and dates are listed at www.youradventurerun.com

Participants will be invited to join free, 60-minute scavenger hunts to meet new friends, score giveaways, win raffle prizes and enjoy live music. At each event, participants will search a three-mile course for checkpoints, beginning at the Kent Road Runner retail store.

By bringing footwear donations to the events and recycling your gently worn shoes with the Soles4Souls, unwanted or seldom used footwear will be put to good use in helping fight poverty in the U.S. and around the world. Many of the used footwear donations will be directed to Soles4Souls’ expanding micro-enterprise program, creating jobs and income for desperately disadvantaged communities in Haiti and other areas.

“We are grateful to Road Runner Sports for lending its wonderful brand and extensive promotional abilities to support the Soles4Souls anti-poverty mission,” said Buddy Teaster, Soles4Souls chief executive officer.  “Each Adventure Run event will introduce thousands of people to both our organization and the enormous impact that they can make simply by cleaning out their closets of shoes that they no longer wear.  We look forward to a long and productive initiative with the Road Runner Sports team across the U.S.”

For more information on how to get involved and donate to Soles4Souls, visit www.giveshoes.org.