About

While serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in the jungles of Papua New Guinea, Mark Hayward spent his last night in the village listening to the horrific screams of the young woman on the left dying from the effects of cerebral malaria because the proper medication was not available.

That evening he made a promise to himself that one day he’d give back to the world by starting a humanitarian organization.

Years later, Mark was out running, and thought of the successful campaigns like Team in Training (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) and Joints in Motion (Arthritis Foundation) that have raised funds and awareness for their health-based organizations by utilizing everyday athletes and their training.

Mark thought, “Why hasn’t anybody used a similar model of endurance athlete training to assist with humanitarian fundraising and awareness?” and the seeds for Train for Humanity were planted.

Train for Humanity was created as an almost entirely online organization in order to reduce overhead to as little as possible, and to show people that with a little creativity and innovation, anyone can assist and make a difference in the world.

The concept is simple: getting fit + social media + blogging = social good

Train for Humanity uses the web, social media, and blogging in tandem with everyday athletes in training to support organizations that help prevent suffering and alleviate the pain of children, orphans, and refugees who have been displaced due to genocide or internal strife and war within their country.

Train for Humanity – Pilot Project

During the first phase of Train for Humanity we are undertaking a pilot project with a select group of individuals doing various athletic events and attempting to raise funds, based on their training efforts, for Darfur Peace & Development.

You can read more about our blogger athletes (Dan Clements, Leo Babauta, and Mark Hayward) on the TFH Team page and please have a look at our Long Term Vision for TFH.

By starting with a ‘phased’ approach we can discern if this “sponsored training,” which has been successful for other organizations, can work for humanitarian causes as well. Your sponsorship is greatly appreciated.


image source: Daniel Cima/IFRC

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