Athletes Donate Medals to Help Those Living with Difficult Challenges

Ranney runners know that any race is more than a morning, a start, and a finish line. When it comes down to it, that’s the easy part. The hard part comes from the miles of practice in the months before. The long, cold, dark morning runs, shaking off the grogginess of sleep. The end of the day runs as dusk settles, and you’d rather be home relaxing, doing homework, out with friends… Then there are the weekend long runs, giving up precious leisure, family, and friend time to reach a running goal. It’s a choice. The rewards? Exhilaration, accomplishment, a healthy body. And a medal.

The founders of Medals4Mettle know the hard work that reaps those rewards. They also know people who don’t have a choice about fighting daily for health and life. Medals4Mettle accepts the hard-won medals of athletes of all kinds, and passes them on to others who daily meet challenges of life-threatening disease, handicaps, or other difficult challenges. What a great way to pay forward the gift of being able to run.

This year, several Ranney runners, coaches, and a Ranney parent chose to donate their medals from the Disney Half-Marathon and Marathon, as well as from other past running events, to Medals4Mettle, to support others who face far greater challenges. It wasn’t easy for some, especially those who had waited a lifetime to earn that talisman of victory, but they chose to honor those whose struggles don’t end at a finish line. For Ranney runners, there will be other races and other medals, and the chance to pass it on once more.

For additional information on all Ranney School news, please contact the Communications Department at communications@ranneyschool.org.