Run for Hope

Hi guys! I normally do not ask for money and actually am not really comfortable doing this. If you know me, you know that I am also not a religious person and an affiliation with a mission is not something I would normally back. But I decided to run a 5K race next Saturday and donate to this project anyway. I'm already donating 33,000 in my race fee but if anyone wanted to add on to that, I created this $50 fundraiser. This group funds college scholarships for Korean orphans who grew up in institutions and don't have the necessary family support or backing to get a college education. From what I'm able to figure out from living here, there are few social safety nets in Korea so if you don't have money or have family support, at age 18 when you age out of an orphanage you are basically left on your own to find a job and somewhere to live. Without a college education, your job prospects are pretty low. Already as an orphan (90% of orphans were relinquished by single/ unwed mothers in a strict Korean society which sort of unfairly outcasts them and orphans at the same time). 100% of the donations are going to the scholarship fund.

On Saturday, October 15, 2016, Oak Tree Project will be partnering with a race for underprivileged children in Korea to raise funds for scholarships for orphans in South Korea. Orphans in Korea are on their own after they graduate from high school and many struggle to get by financially and emotionally. It is especially difficult for those who get into college who have to work while studying. The stress and loneliness leads to depression and desperation for many, which can lead to prostitution, joining gangs, or even suicide. Oak Tree Project is a scholarship and mentoring program designed to not just help the orphans have funds through college, but to also receive the emotional support and guidance they need to succeed. To find out more about the Oak Tree Project, please visit www.oaktreeproject.com.

To donate, click the "Donate now" button on the right.

To run, you can sign up for the 5K, 10K, or half-marathon. The registration fee is ₩33,000 and the deadline for sign-ups is October 6th, 2016. All registrants will receive a free t-shirt. The registration fee will go directly to the Oak Tree Project scholarship fund.

Register for the run here: http://bit.do/otr2016

For more information, email oaktreerun@gmail.com.

Location
Yeouinaru Han River Park
Seoul, South Korea